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Heroes Among Us

The holidays always bring one of my favorite memories back to me, making me smile and reflect on a special Christmas Eve that is as clear as yesterday although more than thirty five years have passed.

This particular Christmas Eve I was a junior in college, pursuing my Bachelor of Animal Science degree at Western Illinois University (WIU). I remained at the university over the holiday break because I was working both at the local animal shelter as well as the university’s sheep farm and the animals needed me. I say “worked”, but both positions brought me so much joy being with the animals that I didn’t consider it to be that. In fact, I often forgot to submit my timesheets for payment at the animal shelter (to the great frustration of my supervisor) and technically I didn’t get paid for working on the sheep farm – it was for college credit. Nevertheless, I took these responsibilities very seriously and learned a lot from both opportunities.

Animal Control Officer II Van Harrison is DACC’s longest serving ACO, dedicating his career of more than 44 years to help the animals and people in Los Angeles County.

Because it was Christmas break, most students had gone home to their families and I was the only one remaining in my small apartment building. Alone in the building, I was settling in for a cold midwestern Christmas Eve when I received a call from the County dispatch center to respond to an animal control call. It was the most bizarre call I had ever received.

The call was to go pick up a stray Lavender goat. A Lavender goat? I racked my brain trying to remember the various breeds of goats I might have learned about. WIU did not offer a goat science class, so I turned to my recollections of the James Herriot books I had devoured in high school. James Herriot, the British veterinarian who wrote books about his experiences as a veterinarian in Yorkshire, England, treated livestock as well as pets and perhaps he wrote about Lavender goats. Since most sheep breeds are named after the area in England from which they came (Suffolk, Hampshire, Cheviot, etc.), I thought this might help me identify the breed history of the Lavender goat. However I was unaware of any area in England called Lavender, could not recall any James Herriot stories about goats, and no other answers came to mind.

As I was driving to the call, I was struck by the quiet beauty of the evening. The streets were deserted, and a fresh snowfall covered everything in glittering, pristine snow. A full moon illuminated the peaceful, sparkling landscape and I was all alone in this winter wonderland as I drove to the call in anticipation and puzzlement.

Just then, a song came on the radio. It was “Jingle Bells” by The Singing Dogs. You know the tune; various pitches of dog barks are composed in the pattern of “Jingle Bells”. I couldn’t help laughing – this just made the evening perfect. The lone animal control officer in an iridescent landscape on a surreal call on Christmas Eve, listening to barking dogs singing “Jingle Bells” on the radio.

When I arrived at the location of the call, I had still not been able to recall the breed of goat called Lavender and was eager to see the goat and add this information to my knowledge in the animal science field. Then I saw the goat. It was purple. Purple! The WIU colors are purple and gold, and obviously this goat was spray painted purple as part of a college prank. That settled the mysterious case of the Lavender breed of goat.

The goat was unharmed, but needed a place to be sheltered, fed, and kept safe. The animal shelter was only designed to house dogs and cats, so I brought the goat to the university sheep ranch where I created a warm pen for her and fed her. She was later adopted to a local family.

Each time I remember this experience, I think of all the animal care and control employees who are working alone on Christmas Eve and every other holiday, evening, and weekend. Animal care is a 24/7 responsibility and these dedicated people ensure the animals are safe and cared for, even when it is personally inconvenient for themselves. They are away from their families and loved ones so the animals can be protected.

This year, animal care and control staff deserve even more recognition and acknowledgement. They have continued to serve and safeguard animals in the face of one of the worst pandemics this world has ever seen. Our team has had to make many adjustments, implement new protocols, and identify a new normal for our care center operations. Throughout it all, our compassionate and dedicated staff have risen to the occasion despite extreme difficulties and uncertainties. The same gratitude goes out to our healthcare workers, first responders, and everyone else who is working for the common good to provide service and care during this time.

If you are one of these people, thank you for your ongoing service to keeping us safe. If not, please join me in gratitude for their efforts. There are many unsung heroes among us, including the lone animal control officer you may see this year on Christmas Eve.

Marcia Mayeda

Obtaining my Master of Nonprofit Administration degree from the University of San Francisco was an enriching experience that gave me greater insight into the critical impact nonprofit organizations play in our communities. Many nonprofits bridge gaps between government and those in need of assistance. In our case, DACC is grateful for the vital programs provided by the Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation (ACF).

The ACF is a private 501(c)3 charity with an independent board of directors that raises money to support the care of the animals at DACC care centers. Due to the generosity of the ACF, DACC can provide enhanced and exceptional care and services to the animals and people who care about them.

Here are just some highlights of what the ACF has supported:

• The Dreams Come True fund, which pays for medical care that exceeds the capability of ACC resources. Many animals’ lives have been saved through this fund, such as victims of animal abuse, physical trauma from being hit by cars, or other complicated injuries.

• The Grooming Gives Hope fund, which provides for professional grooming services for ACC animals that are extremely matted. These animals often suffer from underlying medical conditions caused by the matting. The animals are dull and depressed upon arrival due to their pain and illness. After a few hours of grooming and TLC, they are bright and exuberant, and their medical needs are addressed.

• The Noah’s Legacy fund, which supports emergency evacuation and sheltering services during wildfires, mudslides, and other disasters. This fund has purchased emergency supplies, food, medical care (including a state of the art mobile medical clinic), and towing vehicles and trailers to rescue animals.

• The animal fostering program, by purchasing supplies such as milk replacer, heating pads, bottles, and other supplies to help save the lives of neonatal animals without mothers.

• Installation of dog play yards at the ACCs, where dogs can participate in the impactful play group program. Play groups greatly reduce stress for the dogs which results in less illness, depression, and anxiety.

• Enhanced cat housing, including an outdoor “catio” where cats can safely enjoy sunbathing and fresh air.

• A horse barn and many new corrals and turnouts for horses to receive high quality sheltering and exercise opportunities.

There are many more ways the ACF helps the animals cared for by DACC. Donations to the ACF support these important programs and ensure brighter futures for the animals we all care about. In addition to your own donation, gifts can be made in honor of yourself or another person, making this a thoughtful and impactful way to show your compassion for animals. The ACF also accepts gifts of stock, vehicles, and may be named in estate planning documents. To support the ACF and learn more, please visit www.lacountyanimals.org. In these uncertain times will you join others to help bridge the gap for our animals? The animals are grateful for your support.

Marcia Mayeda

Saving Yumi

Recently DACC animal control officer Matthew Davoodzadeh responded to a call to recover a deceased dog, but upon arrival discovered the one-year old Shih Tzu was not actually dead but terribly injured and in need of emergency treatment. He immediately rushed the dog, later named “Yumi”, back to the department’s Palmdale Animal Care Center where Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) Alexandria Jarlsberg led animal caretaking staff to begin immediate lifesaving actions to save her.

Yumi After Treatment

Yumi Upon Arrival

Yumi’s coat was severely matted and she had hundreds of foxtails working their way into her body. Foxtails are very dangerous to dogs; the barbed seed heads can work their way into any part of the body and lead to serious infection and even death if left untreated. Yumi’s severely matted body was shaved and staff had to remove hundreds of foxtails throughout her tiny body. The foxtail infestation was so severe that Yumi had ulcerations in her eyes, as well as a severe infection in her ear. Many foxtails penetrated more than half their length into her body.

RVT Jarlsberg led her team of Animal Care Attendants Rodolfo Martinez and Emma Vargas to complete the hours-long painstaking process of foxtail removal and provided immediate medical care. By the next morning Yumi was eating, drinking, resting comfortably, and would perk up when staff brought her more food. She was a true fighter, and everyone felt a great sense of relief and satisfaction to see her pull through. Although Yumi did lose one eye from foxtail damage, she recovered well and was placed into a permanent, loving home.

This is but one of the thousands of examples of DACC RVTs’ work to save lives. RVTs are unsung heroes who provide critical services to support and advance the health and well-being for more than 70,000 animals admitted to DACC’s seven animal care centers each year. Many animals arrive injured, ill, neglected, or in need of other medical assistance. All animals are examined by one of our 27 RVTs upon arrival, ensuring that their medical statuses are evaluated, and they receive prophylactic care such as vaccinations and treatments such as de-worming and parasite control. RVTs also alert our staff veterinarians of the need for further examination and diagnosis, or in their absence identify animals that should be referred to private contract veterinarians for further care.

RVTs are licensed professionals who must complete a two-year course of study and pass State licensing examinations. They are authorized under law to perform procedures not permissible for unlicensed caregivers such as inducing anesthesia, applying casts and splints, performing dental extractions, suturing tissue, and administering controlled substances such as pain medication. DACC relies heavily on the skills and compassion of these dedicated professionals to ensure the care and comfort of our animals.

Yumi’s story is but one of the thousands of examples of DACC RVTs’ work to save lives. We honor and recognize their contribution and importance in our department, and to all RVTs in private practice who care for our own beloved pets.

Marcia Mayeda

As I write this, DACC is continuing its emergency animal sheltering services for residents displaced by the devastating Lake Fire, which has burned more than 31,000 acres in the Antelope Valley of northern Los Angeles County. The Ranch Fire near Azusa has been burning as well, causing further evacuations. Additionally, approximately 12,000 lightning strikes have started 585 fires in California over the past week, burning more than one million acres. There is no end in sight for these current wildfires, and more than 13,000 firefighters are battling the fires across California to protect lives and property.

These recent events underscore the importance of having an emergency plan that includes your pets. Because many people must evacuate at a moment’s notice, this plan should be completed and ready to implement immediately. Here are things pet owners should do to ensure their beloved companions are protected:

For dogs, cats, and small companion animals compile an evacuation kit that contains the following information (your pets should already be wearing ID and license tags):

• Copies of vaccine records, especially rabies
• Copies of pet licensing records
• Microchip information, including the pet’s microchip ID number and the issuing company (make sure your information is current with the company – many people move and forget to update the company with their new contact information).
• A list of all medications taken by your pet, with a week’s supply in the kit. Note the diagnosis/reason the pet takes the medication in case someone else must provide the care.
• Flea and tick medication
• Five days’ worth of pet food
• Collapsible food and water containers
• Extra leashes/harnesses
• A collapsible crate to safely confine your pet to protect it from harm
• Toys, blankets, treats, and other items to comfort your pet in a strange environment
• Clear photographs of your pet, including full body pictures from both sides and a close up of their face.

For horses and livestock:

• Make certain your trailer is safe and functional. Perform a complete safety check, including the flooring, frame, welds, axle, brakes, lights, hitch, interior safety and tires. Do this now, before you must move your animals.
• Ensure your horses or other livestock will quickly and obediently load. There have been unfortunate cases of animals left behind because owners were not able to load them into the trailers for evacuation.
• Include copies of vaccinations, especially Strangles, Equine Infectious Anemia, and West Nile virus for horses.
• DACC encourages the microchipping of horses and livestock, not only to identify them if they become lost or evacuated without identification but also to reduce the threat of livestock theft. Microchip your livestock and keep the microchip records up to date, with copies in your evacuation kit.
• Lists of all medications, special feed, medical issues, or other needs your animals may have.
• Have clear photographs of your animals, both full bodied from both sides as well as of any brands, ear tags, ear notches, or other identifying information.
• If you are evacuating livestock from threat of fire, do not place any shavings, straw, or other bedding in the trailer because sparks can fly into the trailer and ignite the bedding. For the same reason, do not put blankets on your horses when evacuating from fires.
• Bring fly masks, fly sheets, halters and lead ropes, and other items for your animals’ comfort.
• Many people will identify their horses by writing their phone numbers on the horses’ hooves, or attaching an equine-specific safety neck band with identifying information. This is a good supplement to the microchip.

DACC responds regularly throughout the year to provide animal evacuation and sheltering services. Our dedicated staff and volunteers work 24 hours a day to provide for the comfort and safety of evacuated animals. We view this as an honor to be able to serve the people and animals of Los Angeles County.

Evacuations are not always the result of wildfires. Mudslides, train derailments, toxic emissions, and other man-made disasters can cause emergency evacuations even in non-fire prone areas. Can your pets and animals count on you for their emergency preparedness?

 

Marcia Mayeda

The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC) has adopted a new strategy for helping animals as part of its implementation of the nationally recognized animal sheltering model known as Socially Conscious Animal Sheltering (SCAS), adopted by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on August 6, 2019. Called “Managed Intake,” this strategy aligns DACC practices with the needs and resources of the community to reduce the need to accept animals into the seven DACC animal care centers and increase positive outcomes for stray and unwanted animals.

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, DACC reached out to other animal sheltering organizations across the country to learn and adopt best practices to provide SCAS in this current environment and in the future. As a result, DACC has determined the former practice of receiving animals into DACC animal care centers without some measure of control should be refined to provide better animal population management and customer service. By partnering with the community to identify other options for stray and unwanted animals and provide solutions to the problems that bring these animals to our doors, DACC can prioritize situations in which receiving a pet into our care is the best or only option for that animal.

Managed Intake programs allow agencies to manage and reduce the flow of both owned pets and homeless animals into their care. By reducing the intake of animals from our communities, DACC is better able to provide individual care and attention to each animal in its care. With limited space at Los Angeles County animal care centers, it is our responsibility to identify any possible alternatives to impoundment, provide more robust resources, and increase positive outcomes for the animals that do have to be admitted into the care centers.

Community Engagement

Community engagement is the key to successfully employing a Managed Intake approach. DACC has found that many community members, given the appropriate training and resources, would like to retain their pet or help a lost pet find its way home. By viewing the community as an extension of DACC the collaboration benefits vulnerable animals, is more rewarding for the people who care about them, and increases DACC’s capacity to provide services. Animal care centers serve as community resource centers by aligning animals and owners in need with the resources they need, when they need them. The engagement of volunteers and community partners are also key components to a successful Managed Intake approach because of the vast human and material resources they can bring to fostering, networking, facilitating adoptions, or solving problems to allow pets to stay with their owners.

Owned Pets

When an owner considers relinquishing a pet, DACC first recommends and offers resources such as training and behavior advice, food and supplies, or support with other solutions to help keep the pet in the home. The most common reasons for pet surrender in Los Angeles County are medical care costs and housing issues. Under Managed Intake, DACC staff discuss these concerns with owners and refer them to resources that will allow them to reconsider surrendering their pets. Other times owners are simply frustrated with behavioral problems or lack the resources to fix fencing or address other one-time needs. With support to resolve these issues, pets can remain with the family that already knows and loves them. If a pet owner is still unable or unwilling to keep their pet, DACC provides advice to owners about how to rehome their pets themselves and avoid having to surrender their pets to an animal care center. This can be a less stressful outcome for both pets and their owners and saves valuable and limited animal housing space for those animals at the animal care centers who have no other options. If the owner is unable to rehome their pet on their own, DACC will accept it and seek the best possible outcome for that animal. Managed Intake at DACC also assists pet owners experiencing homelessness or other serious but hopefully temporary personal situations such as severe illness or domestic violence by referring pet owners in need to resources for pet friendly housing, homeless services, free veterinary treatment, or free temporary pet boarding.

Stray Animals

Most stray animals are found within a few miles of their homes, and methods other than animal care center intake may more quickly and less expensively reunite these lost pets with their families. DACC encourages people who have found lost pets to first attempt reuniting the pets with their families by having the pets scanned for microchips to identify owner contact information, using neighborhood and social media apps to publicize found pets, and posting fliers in the neighborhood. DACC advises on effective pet reunification strategies, provides templates for flyers to post in neighborhoods, and offers other suggestions to engage the neighborhood and community. When finders are not successful or are unable to engage in these activities, DACC will accept the animals to ensure the safety of both animals and the public.

Healthy free roaming cats are generally deferred from impoundment because they are thriving in their current environment. Many free roaming cats have a family and vary their time between the home and outdoors. Bringing these cats to an animal care center removes them from their home territories, and owners generally don’t look for them at animal care centers for many days. Unfortunately, the return to owner rate for cats is less than 5%. By the time the owner comes to an animal care center, their pet cat could have come and gone. Other times, a home or group of homes is providing food and water to unowned neighborhood cats. These cats have established themselves as part of their neighborhood and do not need animal care center assistance. Prior to Managed Intake at DACC, approximately 50% of impounded cats were euthanized. That number has dropped dramatically because healthy free roaming cats are allowed to remain where they live.

Additionally, DACC has launched a “Got Kittens?” campaign to address the seasonal influx of kittens into animal care centers. By educating the public about identifying whether kittens are truly abandoned by their mother and in need of immediate assistance, more kittens can remain with their mothers during the critical nursing stage until weaned. This approach is healthier for kittens and improves their chance to later be successfully adopted. If the kittens have actually been abandoned by their mother, DACC provides education and fostering supplies to community members who enjoy caring for them until they are old enough for adoption through DACC or other resources. Underage kittens impounded without their mothers are in fact the most common reason for animal euthanasia, and DACC is preventing the unnecessary impoundment of kittens by educating the community and expanding its volunteer foster program.

Any cats or kittens that are malnourished, ill, injured, or require assistance are welcomed at DACC so they can receive the care they need. DACC is also exploring opportunities to expand low-cost spay/neuter services for cats to prevent the birth of unwanted kittens.

Public Safety and Animal Welfare

DACC recognizes that some animals must be immediately brought to an animal care center for their own safety or the safety of the public. Animals that pose a safety threat will immediately and safely be impounded. Animals that are sick or injured will be accepted so medical assistance can be provided. Additional situations may include an owner’s sudden and complete inability to provide care, animal cruelty and neglect cases, and other special circumstances.

Appointment-Based Services

DACC has implemented appointment only services to better assist the public. DACC’s move to appointment only services has eliminated the long in-person customer waiting lines of the past. Every case is unique, and by using appointments to provide services DACC staff can anticipate needs and be better prepared to individualize the provision of resources and the outcome plan for each animal to meet our commitment to their health and safety and best chance of a positive outcome. Appointments are conducted with a case management approach emphasizing the individual human-animal bond. Preliminary phone interviews are conducted prior to in-person services and can even prevent the need to come to an animal care center. Phone interviews also prepare visitors to ensure proper physical distancing requirements are maintained when in-person services are required.

Conclusion
In summary, through the Managed Intake approach DACC is better able to dedicate its limited resources to the animals and people most in need. Prior to Managed Intake, animal care centers often operated at or above capacity in terms of space and staffing availability. These challenges compromised DACC’s ability to provide a full range of services to optimize animal care and meet the needs of the public. With Managed Intake, impounded animals receive better care given DACC capacity, and people receive more personalized attention with their animal issues.
Managed Intake is a thoughtful public policy to create the best outcomes for all animals while valuing the human-animal bond. By engaging the community, more pets and families can remain together, lost pets are more quickly reunited with their families, limited governmental resources are preserved for those animals and people with no other options, and animal euthanasia is decreased. DACC will continue to refine and adjust its practices as circumstances warrant and is grateful for the support of the community, both in these troubled times and into the future as we work together to create communities where every animal is wanted and loved.
Best wishes to you and your loved ones for safety and good health.

Marcia Mayeda

Returning to the Workplace:

As society starts slowly reopening from the coronavirus shut down, some people will begin returning to work outside the home and must leave behind pets that became accustomed to their ongoing companionship. Pet owners returning to work outside of the home will likely be concerned how their pets will handle the sudden separation. Some pets may become depressed or destructive because their owner is no longer around full time. If you plan to be returning to work outside of the home, here are some suggestions to get your pets accustomed to your absence.

• Before your work schedule begins, start taking absences from the home so your pet can get used to being alone again. Go for a drive, take a walk, or engage in any other activities where you can still practice social distancing and comply with local health orders. Begin with just a brief absence and gradually increase the length of time that you are gone. It is important that you remain calm and relaxed both when you leave your home and return, so your pet doesn’t associate your coming and going with something to be anxious about.
• Provide puzzle toys for your pets. Puzzle toys take your pets’ mind off your absence and are great mental stimulation. Your dog will enjoy a puzzle toy that can be filled with treats. These can occupy a dog for hours as they attempt to dislodge the treats. For added length of puzzle time, add peanut butter (without xylitol, which is toxic to pets), canned dog food, low fat cream cheese, or other goodies inside the treat and freeze it before giving it to your dog. There are many puzzle games for cats that take advantage of their prey drive to chase and capture moving objects. Options for both dogs and cats can be found at local pet stores or on any online pet toy website.
• Make sure your pet is getting plenty of exercise. Try to build a brisk 30-minute walk for your dog into your schedule before you leave the home, or play an engaging game of fetch, tug of war, or other activity that will burn off any excess energy your dog has. Cats will enjoy chasing laser pointer beams or playing with many cat toys that encourage jumping.
• If your pet is an only pet and enjoys the company of other animals, consider adopting a friend for it at one of the Los Angeles County Animal Care Centers (or any other animal shelter). Your pet cat and its new buddy can play together when you’re gone, and you will have made a huge difference in the life of a homeless animal.
• If you are not able to bring an additional pet into your home your dog instead might benefit from going to a doggie day care in your absence. Thoroughly research the facility and take a tour in advance to make sure it is suitable for your dog. DACC inspects all animal facilities in its jurisdiction and provides grades to them similar to Los Angeles County’s restaurant grading system.
• Find someone to stop by your home during the day to play with your pets or walk your dog. There are many qualified pet sitting companies, or even a trusted friend or neighbor might be able and willing to do this for you.
• Always ensure that your pet is wearing its collar and tags whenever you are away in the event it escapes your home or yard to look for you. Keep your pet’s license up to date to prevent any citations or fines for failing to comply with pet licensing laws. Microchip your pet, and make certain that you contact information is current with the microchip registry. All of these precautions are necessary to ensure you and your lost pet can be successfully reunited.
• If your pet has serious separation anxiety that cannot be remediated with these suggestions, consult a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB or ACAAB), your veterinarian, or a board-certified veterinary behaviorist (Dip ACVB).

Returning to work outside the home can go smoothly if well-planned. What will you do to ensure a smooth transition for your pets?

Marcia Mayeda

Keeping Kids and Pets Safer at Home

School closures due to the Coronavirus pandemic have significantly changed home life for both families and their pets. Children are now home full time, learning new ways to engage with their teachers while continuing their education. Smaller children that would be in day care or pre-school are also home. Parents working from home may be distracted by work responsibilities and challenged to monitor their children’s and pets’ interactions.

As a result, DACC has seen an alarming increase in the reporting of dog bites to children. Most of these situations have occurred when the family dog was eating, playing with a toy, challenged, or hurt by a child. Cats will scratch and even bite if they are threatened or cornered. Keep your children safe and your pets happy by following these suggestions:

• Recognize that your pets need their own time for rest and de-stressing. A house full of kids all day long can be exhausting for a pet, particularly if multiple children are constantly engaging with it and not giving it time to recharge. Pets should have quiet places where they can retreat, and the children should be taught that they must not disturb the pet when it is resting. Create a retreat for your pets by blocking off an area that they like and make sure the children understand that the pets should not be disturbed when they are using their retreats. Cozy dog crates work great for most dogs, and cats enjoy carpeted cat trees with hiding dens.
• Remember that small children are not good at recognizing signs of stress or danger from animals. Growling, hissing, avoidance, stiff body posture, whale-eye, raised hackles, twitching tails (cats), nervousness, and lip licking are just some behaviors that demonstrate the pet’s anxiety is increasing and could result in a bite. Always monitor pet and children interactions so you can recognize the early warning signals and intervene before the situation becomes dangerous. Most pets give ample warning before a bite, but frequently a child is not able to recognize the warning signs. They may push the animal until it feels it has no more choices.
• Be especially protective of older pets. They are likely to have some varying degree of arthritis. It may be painful if a child pats them too hard, hugs them, or falls on them. Many older animals lose their hearing and/or vision and can become startled and alarmed when a child suddenly appears within their space.
• Also be protective of small or fragile animals. Children can unintentionally injure them and cause pain resulting in a reactive bite.
• Do not allow children to interfere with a pet when it is eating. This should be a stressor and distraction-free time for a pet to enjoy their meal. Many dogs have a natural desire to protect their food and may fear the child is competing for the meal. This is a common reason for dog bites to children.
• Always supervise children and pets when they are playing together. Toys can be a source of competition and a dog might bite if its toy is removed. Tug of war can result in accidental bites if a dog grabs for a better hold on the toy and accidentally catches the child’s hand.
• Do not allow children to climb on dogs, pull their ears, play with their mouths, tug their tails, or engage in other aggravating behaviors. Many animal control officers cringe when they see photos or videos of children climbing on large dogs, noticing the anxiety and stress of the dog and knowing that bite is likely to result from this unwanted aggravation.

You may have seen a hilarious anecdote that circulated on the internet several years ago. A person posted: “An older, tired-looking dog wandered into my yard; I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home and was well taken care of. He calmly came over to me, I gave him a few pats on his head; he then followed me into my house, slowly walked down the hall, curled up in the corner and fell asleep. An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out.

The next day he was back, greeted me in my yard, walked inside and resumed his spot in the hall and again slept for about an hour. This continued off and on for several weeks.

Curious I pinned a note to his collar, ‘I would like to find out who the owner of this wonderful sweet dog is and ask if you are aware that almost every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap.’

“The next day he arrived for his nap, with a different note pinned to his collar, ‘He lives in a home with 6 children, 2 under the age of 3 and he’s trying to catch up on his sleep. Can I come with him tomorrow?’”

Most pets are well adjusted family members and live harmoniously with their families. However, even the best pet may lash out if they are excessively harassed or challenged. Every pet needs some alone time, even if it’s at a neighbor’s house!

Marcia Mayeda

The most rewarding thing about working for animal care and control is the opportunity to help people and animals. Animals touch everyone’s lives and being a resource to assist them and their pets with the many issues that arise helps make safer and happier communities.

Animal shelters are essential services. Our officers must still respond to calls for sick, injured, abused, lost, or dangerous animals. Animal Care & Control Officer Appreciation Week is April 12 – 18, 2020. This week recognizes the courage and compassion officers bring to their job every day. They keep residents and animals safe from harm. Our care center staff must care for the animals in need that have no place to go. We are their refuge.

During COVID-19, DACC has made many changes to its operating practices but continues to meet its core mission. Our dedicated staff are the essential workers that continue to provide critical services.
One silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic is the increase in animal adoptions and fostering because people are adhering to the Safer at Home requirements and can devote time to a new pet. DACC has greatly expanded its fostering program so people can quickly and safely choose a pet to take into their home for a period of time, providing that animal with a calm and nurturing home environment. The joy and companionship brought by these animals are great comforts during this challenging time.

DACC is also here to assist people who are experiencing safe housing issues. Our COLA-HI program provides temporary sheltering for pets belonging to people experiencing homelessness. This allows these individuals to get into safe housing without worrying about their pets. DACC’s Ani-Safe program provides temporary housing to pets belonging to victims of domestic violence. Many victims do not leave abusive situations because domestic violence shelters do not accept pets. They and their pets are forced to continue to endure the abuse. DACC will provide confidential and safe housing for these animals so victims can get the services they need and move into safe living arrangements. In both these scenarios, the pets are later reunited with their owners when they have found permanent safe housing.

As DACC is adapting to the new operating practices created in response to COVID-19 we are learning new and better ways to manage the various services we provide. For example, using appointment systems has greatly improved the customer experience for adopters and owners reclaiming their lost pets. Expanding fostering has brought joy and love to many animals and people. While this is a very difficult time for us all, there will be valuable lessons learned that we can rely on in the future. Just as Hurricane Katrina revolutionized animal rescue during natural disasters, COVID-19 will also be a catalyst for transformational changes in animal sheltering.

You can rest assured that DACC is continuously monitoring the environment to stay current on emerging information, trends, and best practices. We remain open to adapting to any change that can improve our operational practices. We continue to be committed to our mission of helping people and animals. You can rely on us.

Today the County of Los Angeles closed all County buildings to the public, including animal care centers.  As COVID-19 changes how we currently interact with each other, I’d like to tell you how DACC is responding to this challenge and how pet parents can adapt to these changes in our society.

DACC remains committed to public safety and animal welfare. Our officers remain on duty 24/7 to respond to public safety an animal welfare calls such as dangerous dogs, sick/ill animals, police assistance, animal cruelty investigations, and patrols. To adhere to social distancing recommendations, less urgent calls are being deferred until further notice.

Our animal care centers continue to care for lost or unwanted animals and reunite them with their families or find them new adoptive homes.  During this closure, the health and safety of the animals in our care remains our top priority.  Please know that during this time, no animals will be euthanized unless they are irremediably suffering, dangerous, or unable to eat without assistance. We will remain true to our mission and continue to serve those who need us.

In order to provide safe environments for our visitors and staff, we have made some modifications to our services to reduce social contact.  We have taken several steps to reducing foot traffic in our ACCs so we can provide a safer environment for everyone. Non-essential activities are being deferred or handled via mail or telephone. Adopters and people searching for their lost pets will be allowed to do so by appointment. We are asking the public to renew pet licenses online or by mail, and they are being given a 30-day grace period for late submissions. Pet owners who wish to surrender their pets are asked to delay surrendering them at this time, if possible.  Additionally, those who wish to surrender stray, healthy cats are asked to not bring them to an ACC until the public health recommendation for social distancing is removed. Please check our website and follow us on social media to get latest news about DACC’s activities.

But what about you and your pets?  There is no evidence that COVID-19 is transmissible between pets and their families. With that good news, make sure you are prepared to care for your pet during the pandemic.

We always suggest that when preparing for emergencies, pet owners remember their pets and keep a supply of pet food and medicine on hand.  Remember that medications can be ordered online or your veterinarian may be willing to ship to your home. Online pet food companies will deliver right to your doorstep. Make sure your pets’ vaccinations and licenses are up to date and their care/feeding/medication instructions are printed out in case you become ill and another person must care for them until you recover. Make plans with friends or family to provide care for your pets if need be.

With these practical matters resolved, now is the time to really focus on your pets and spend some quality time together! Consider how you can use the current social distancing recommendations to enhance the bond between you and your BFF (Best Four-legged Friend). Maybe the dog park isn’t the best place for you to take your dog right now. However, there are many ways to still have fun together. A nice solitary walk with just you and your pal can be a special bonding experience that your dog will really enjoy. Pick a new route and let him sniff and enjoy the world through his nose. Spend some extra time on grooming, give him a nice massage, and don’t forget those belly rubs!

There are many games that will mentally stimulate your dog and keep him moving. Many dogs like to play hide and seek, tug of war, and fetch. Do some nose work with your dog, teach him some new tricks, and brush up on his obedience skills. All these activities will mentally stimulate and exercise your dog. There are many interactive toys you can buy online that can be fun for the both of you.

Cats will also benefit from extra time with you. Additional grooming and petting will be very appreciated. There are many interactive cat toys that are fun to use, such as laser pointers and feather wands. Even something as simple as leaving out some empty paper bags or boxes for cats to explore can be entertaining for them.

But most importantly, your pets just want YOU. Be there for them and be engaged.  Use this time to strengthen your relationship and return the unconditional love of your animals. You mean the world to them, and this is an opportunity to return the love and devotion they show every day. Together, we will see this through.

Assembly Bill 1553 became effective on January 1, 2020. This bill changed the language in several sections of code in California law.

The word “pound” (as in dog pound) was replaced with “animal shelter.” The person in charge of the “pound” was the “poundkeeper.” Now they are the “shelter director.” A “pound officer” is now an “animal control officer.” Thankfully, the terms “destroyed” and “killed” have been changed to “humanely euthanized.”

Our terrific medical team: volunteer RVT Jessica Sanderson, Dr. Joselito San Juan, and RVT Julia Baden

These changes reflect the tremendous progress made in the field of animal welfare. The archaic terms of “pound,” “destroyed,” and “killed” are not accurate words to describe the work that goes on in today’s animal shelters.  The use of the word “pound” caused me to reflect on how our important role in the community has changed and I recalled an experience I will never forget.

I began my career in animal welfare in my junior year studying animal science at Western Illinois University. I was hired as a part-time animal control officer for McDonough County’s small, rural animal control facility. Based on today’s standards, I would call it a pound. Nevertheless, despite the spartan building and resources I was thrilled to have discovered a career that seemed made for me – helping animals and the people who cared about them. I loved it so much that I often got in trouble for forgetting to turn in my weekly timecard; to me, it wasn’t a job but a passion.

One day my boss told me on the upcoming Saturday, when I would be alone at the facility, a man would come by to pick out some dogs. I was to give him whatever dogs he wished. On Saturday this man drove down the long gravel road to our remote facility and backed his pickup truck up to the entrance. It was an old, rusted, blue standard sized pickup that had seen better days. A white shell was attached on the bed of the truck. He raised the shell door and lowered the tailgate. I was speechless at what I saw inside.

The bed of the truck was divided horizontally into upper and lower levels by a platform of particle board. I saw dozens of eyes staring back at me behind wire mesh. Beautiful dogs were wiggling their bodies at the sight of humans, and probably the chance for fresh air. Their soulful eyes pleaded for love and help. I saw immediately how the dogs in the lower level had no opportunity for fresh air or sunlight when the truck was closed, and the top-level dogs only had minimal ventilation.

I stood there in shock. I had no idea what this man’s purpose was, and only realized much later into my career that I was witnessing a “buncher.” Bunchers were people who bought dogs from pounds and shelters to sell for medical experimentation and research. The practice was called “pound seizure.” Poorly regulated by the federal government, many lost family pets disappeared this way during the 1980’s and earlier decades.

My mind was racing. I still didn’t know what this man’s intentions were, but I could tell that whatever this was, it was wrong. My boss had been clear on his instructions but there was no way I was about to give this man any dogs. I resigned myself to the fact that I would be fired the next week for disobeying my boss’s orders and was sad that the job I enjoyed so much would end. But before I had to refuse the buncher’s request the man looked down the road, said he would not be taking any dogs that day, and quickly closed his truck and left.

I turned to where he had been looking and saw a woman driving slowly along, closely watching us. She was obviously on to his scheme and he didn’t want any trouble. The next week my boss told me that this woman had reported the buncher’s visit to his supervisors, and that the decision was made that the buncher would no longer be coming for dogs. I was immensely relieved and have never forgotten this woman’s courage and conviction to help the animals. She was a true angel.

I mention this because it is a clear indicator of how far our country has come in its treatment and concern for homeless animals. Thirty-five years later, pound seizure is almost unheard of and against the law in most states. These days, our department has even moved beyond the term “animal shelter” to use the more descriptive “animal care center.”

Animal Care Center (ACC) is a better term to use to describe the wholistic and comprehensive services we provide. These include an industry-leading medical program for prevention, diagnosis, and treatments of illnesses and injuries; an animal behavior and enrichment division to ensure the mental and behavior well-being of the animals; partnerships with other organizations to increase adoption opportunities; transfer programs to relocate animals from our overpopulated ACCs to areas of the country with a shortage of homeless pets; a vibrant and engaged volunteer program, and much more. “Shelter” does not go far enough to describe what we do.

Volunteers and HHA members Tamy Rieder, Donna Hartnett, and Robin Kahrs

I saw some great examples of these operational practices when I spent a day at our Agoura Animal Care Center on January 21. I was thrilled to witness the adoption of Smokey, a beautiful German Shepherd who our staff and volunteers had been working tirelessly to find a new home for 136 days. Smokey had arrived at the ACC with the need for emergency abdominal surgery. The nonprofit organization that supports our Agoura ACC’s lifesaving efforts, Healthcare for Homeless Animals, paid for the surgery to save Smokey. Everyone was overjoyed that Smokey found his new forever home.

A little female Australian Heeler puppy was surrendered by her owners. She was trembling and frightened. The compassionate medical staff and volunteers gently examined her and gave her lots of love. I vaccinated and dewormed her, and a volunteer found her an adorable pink princess sweater to wear. Our volunteers in the kennels couldn’t bear to put her in a dog run alone, so they held her and consoled her as she learned to acclimate to her new environment. Within an hour, a person expressed interest in adopting the puppy. Because state law requires we spay or neuter all dogs and cats prior to adoption, she couldn’t immediately go home with her new owner. A volunteer offered to bring her home to foster care for her until her surgery was performed. Everyone pulled together for both Smokey and this little puppy.

 

 

Words matter. Do the stories of Smokey and the little puppy make you think of “pound” or “animal care center”? I am so proud and grateful for the amazing work performed every day by our staff, volunteers, and engaged community partners. It is fitting that state law has changed its language to better describe the important work done by animal welfare agencies in California.

Please help spread the word(s)!