Rescue Roundtable - Los Angeles County Animal Shelter System

Mary Catalano of Rescue Roundtable interviews Cathy Nguyen and Ryan Olshan about the status of the Los Angeles County Animal Shelter System. Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control Alleged Violations include:

Obstructing justice by issuing orders to fabricate records and destroy email and other "paper trails" in an investigation conducted by the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency regarding the Departments non-compliance with federal and state euthanasia record keeping requirements. Use and possession of illegal substances on County property. Routine failure to hold employees accountable for breaking department policy and procedure and state and federal law. Firing and suspending of employees and volunteers for bringing departmental misconduct to the attention of department heads. Causing unnecessary suffering, sickness, and death due to the foregoing violations (Civil Code §§1834, 1846, 2080; Pen. Code §597; LACDACC Code of Conduct; LACDACC Maintenance of Animal Health Policy OPK140; LACDACC Sick and Injured Animals Policy OPF180). Not providing animals requiring veterinary/medical care with veterinary/medical care or stopping veterinary/medical care when veterinary/medical care is still required. Routine failure to provide adequate nutrition, shelter, exercise and water and to treat animals kindly and humanely. Killing animals without first engaging in reasonable efforts to identify and locate the animal's owner or make the animal available for adoption to the public. Refusal to release animals scheduled to be killed for any reason other than irremediable suffering to a non-profit rescue organization that has requested custody of the animal. Not providing animals in clear need of emergency care with the necessary care. Failing to report violations of policy and procedure and wrongful euthanasia as per department policies and procedures. Routine failure to vaccinate animals upon impound, isolate animals that are not vaccinated, and vaccinate animals who have been impounded for more than 15 days with a second dose of vaccines. Routine failure to isolate sick animals away from the general population. Routine failure to perform an intake examination by the shelter RVT or veterinarian upon impound. Routine failure to scan animals for microchips upon impound and before euthanasia. Routine failure to medicate animals as prescribed and ensuring animals swallow their medication. Wrongful killing of animals. Impounded Animals Policy OPG140; LACDACC Impounded Animals with Traceable Identification Policy OPG150) Killing live animals in front of dead animals and allowing dead animals to be in view of live animals. Routine killing of purebred animals without first contacting the appropriate breed rescues. The inaccurate classification of animals and killing those animals on the basis of the erroneous classification before the statutorily required holding period has expired. Not allowing breeds of dogs deemed aggressive by the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control to be adopted to members of the public without first requiring temperament testing. Holding animals in areas of Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control shelters that are not accessible to members of the public. Failure to band animals with their impound number upon impound.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Rescue
• Roundtable
• Mary
• Catalano
• Los
• Angeles
• County
• Shelter
• animal
• dog
• cat
• welfare
• rights
• DoggyTV

[burtihal]

It's now three years later, and nothing much has changed. Marcia Mayeda has had 10 years to make a difference in the lives of the thousands of animals that have come through the doors of the 6 Los Angeles County Animal Shelters. She has failed miserably. Not only is the kill rate well over 80%, but the living conditions are horrific and almost all the animals that manage to survive are adopted or rescued SICK. Time to go!

[rockinfortheplanet]

Thank you for another informative interview with the animal's needs in the forefront as they should be. From what I can gather it would seem the differing laws from county to county are getting in the way of good, humane animal welfare practice. This has to change. Every homeless dog/cat must be given the best care and a second chance. It's a shame those that speak up for them are sometimes treated like the bad guys, when in fact compassionate advocacy is always right!

[rinconia7]

right on mary catalano-- and cathy and ryan! let the light shine on the inhumane treatment of animals...it will change when people are aware.