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On January 10, 2020 California Governor Gavin Newsom released his proposed 2020-21 budget. To the wide acclaim of animal welfare advocates throughout the state, the budget includes a $50 million one-time grant for the University of California Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program to develop a grant program for animal shelters. The program will include interactive group training for approximately 100 shelters, selected on a voluntary basis and prioritized by need; California and regional best practices summits; and an online resource library available to all shelters. Over a five-year period, this program will provide expertise, support, and assistance to help local communities achieve the state’s longstanding policy goal that no adoptable or treatable dog or cat is euthanized.

This thrilling announcement shows how the concern for homeless animals has developed in public policy. It is so rewarding to see how public awareness of homeless animals has impacted animal sheltering in California. More and more people are making adoption their only choice when bringing a new pet into the family, bypassing the inhumane practices of puppy mills and backyard breeders. Spay and neuter is now customary, at least for those who can afford it (more on that below). Microchipping pets has become commonplace, and we are able to return lost pets to their devastated families even years after the pets went missing.

However, there is still much work to be done and Governor Newson’s proposal can be a game changer. I have been thinking about how this grant can be used to help the most underserved areas in our state. Some areas, like the Central Valley, extreme Northern California, and the remote desert areas have a dearth of services available to pet owners. However “deserts” of resources exist in even the most populous areas, such as Los Angeles County.

A couple weeks ago I rode along with officer Art Menchaca from our Carson/Gardena animal care center. We first patrolled the Palos Verdes Peninsula, a wealthy and beautiful area of Los Angeles County. We had no calls for loose animals, dangerous dogs, areas overpopulated with cats, or other common situations. Our only calls were for dead animals, mostly wildlife, that had been hit by cars.

Later, we responded to a call for a dog attack on a smaller dog in Lennox, an underserved area of unincorporated Los Angeles County south of Los Angeles. The little dog suffered severe lacerations around her neck that were going to require extensive suturing. The attacking dog was a husky mix that lived across the street. It ran across the street and attacked the little dog on her own property. Three boys from her family were extremely shaken by what happened, and very concerned for her well-being. The husky owner’s yard and fencing were poorly maintained and could not contain the husky or another smaller male black dog she cared for. These dogs regularly ran loose.

We learned that the black dog was the father of the victim dog, and the mother of the victim dog lived across the street with a neighbor. Another neighbor had a sibling of the little dog. So, just on one small street I saw how poverty and unavailability of services, even in a large city, made this one street unstable and created more unplanned animals.

I am pleased to report that Officer Menchaca has been following up on this case. The little dog received the medical care she needed, the husky’s fence was repaired, and the male black dog has been neutered. But I think this all could have been prevented if more resources had been available to the pet owners before this happened. That is why I am so excited about Governor Newsom’s proposed $50M to help animals. It won’t solve all the problems, but it is a great start.

The most common reason people surrender pets to our care centers is because the animal has a medical condition they cannot afford to treat, or the pet owner has lost their housing. Stray animals are brought to our care centers for safety and care. Many of them arrive because their fencing is in disrepair or their owners allow them to run loose.

How can we best help these most vulnerable of animals? Is it with mobile medical clinics to take services to underserved areas? Educating owners regarding pet care laws (Los Angeles County requires spay, neuter, and microchipping of all dogs and cats and prohibits animals from running at large)? Creating grass-roots community groups to reach out to their neighbors and find creative solutions that best meet their needs?

The future is exciting, and the possibilities are endless. How would you spend $50M to help California’s animals?

It’s the holiday season and sadly not everyone has the opportunity to have a home to share with their cherished family pets. People experiencing homelessness must sometimes make heart-wrenching decisions between being housed versus keeping their animals. Far too often, pet owners who lose a place to live can only find housing that does not allow pets. This places them in the impossible situation where they must decide to accept the housing and relinquish their pets, or keep their pets but be unhoused.

As part of Los Angeles County’s holistic and multi-disciplinary approach to helping people experiencing homelessness, DACC was compelled to develop a strategy to help people experiencing homelessness and their pets stay together. The bond with a pet may give a person in need of housing the emotional strength to carry on during such a difficult time, and losing that pet could be even further devastating to their emotional well-being. We believe strongly that pets should remain with the families that love and want them.

To assist pet owners experiencing homelessness, our trained staff counsel them about options for them and their pets. Sometimes all a person needs is a dog crate or grooming for a dog in order to be welcomed in a temporary living space. Other times, referral to County services can help bridge the gap. If these interventions cannot resolve the situation, we may temporarily house and care for the pet(s) while the family finds stable, pet-friendly housing.

Yvette Garcia was faced with this difficult decision when domestic violence caused her to experience homelessness. Her dogs helped get her through the crisis and she could not feel safe unless she had them by her side. The temporary shelter she found for herself could not accommodate her dogs, so she reached out to our department for help. Our compassionate employees at our Lancaster Animal Care Center made arrangements to temporarily care for her dogs.

Once Yvette was sure that her dogs were safe and cared for, she was able to focus on taking steps to rebuild her life. Our Lancaster team enjoyed being able to provide care to these beloved dogs, but the best part was being able to reunite them with Yvette once she had secured permanent housing for all of them. You can see a brief video about Yvette’s story here: https://vimeo.com/377400704/50982841d3?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=

Thanks to Los Angeles County’s commitment to helping people experiencing homelessness, DACC has been able to help hundreds of pets and their owners. Families belong together, and pets are an equal part of our families. I am proud of the work our team does each and every day to help people and pets in LA County.

Happy holidays to you and your family!

PS – I had the honor of being interviewed by award-winning photojournalist Tish Lampert about the many programs offered by DACC. Please click the below link to her podcast to hear more about how DACC helps animals and people in our communities:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/americaspeakspodcast/MARCIA_11.27.2019_01.mp3

Holiday season is in full effect and many are in search of the perfect present for their loved ones. Gifting friends or family members with an adorable new puppy or kitten is popular but not recommended for several reasons. Pets require a lifetime commitment, which includes time and financial demands. Unprepared new pet parents might regret the gift, and even re-gift the pet (sometimes to our overwhelmed animal care centers!).

Before surprising someone with a pet as a gift, here are some things to consider:

• Will they be a responsible pet owner?
• If the recipient is a child, will the parents assume care for the animal? Have the parents agreed to bringing a new pet into their home?
• Will they have enough free time to tend to the pet’s needs?
• Are they able and willing to accept the ongoing financial responsibilities of pet ownership?

Is this a surprise? We recommend that the recipient is able to pick out their own pet and have the opportunity to bond with the animal before bringing it home. A home-made gift certificate can be presented to the gift recipient. Gift givers can create and print out a personal gift certificate on their own personal computer to give to the recipient.

Once you contemplate the answers to the points above and decide to give a gift of a precious pet, please remember the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control has hundreds of wonderful animals in its seven animal care centers. Find our nearest animal care center at https://animalcare.lacounty.gov/.

Also, if you determine a pet may not be the best gift this holiday season and have a close friend or relative that loves animals, there are other ways to recognize their love for animals. A donation in their name to the Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation at www.lacountyanimals.org is a wonderful way to support our work on behalf of animals in need.

Also, you may share with them some amazing opportunities DACC has to foster a loving animal and/or participate in our volunteer program. Find information on how to become a foster parent at https://animalcare.lacounty.gov/become-a-foster-caretaker/. Learn more about the volunteer opportunities at https://animalcare.lacounty.gov/become-a-volunteer/.
Pets are the gifts that keep on giving with their unconditional love. Let’s make sure they are a welcome addition to the family so they and their new pet parents can enjoy a lifetime of devotion to each other.

Happy holidays to you and your loved ones!

On September 23, 2019, a black and silver terrier named “Mia” was brought into the County of Los Angeles Palmdale Animal Care Center (ACC)  as a stray by a Good Samaritan.  Staff at the Palmdale ACC were able to quickly identify Mia’s owner because Mia had been microchipped and the chip was registered. Calls were placed to Mia’s owner to let her know we had her pet.  The owner noticed several missed calls from an unknown number, but returned the call the next day.  She discovered the reason for the calls and was very perplexed.  She told Sgt. Chris Valles that she hasn’t had a dog in years and was sure this wasn’t her dog.  Sgt. Valles reviewed DACC’s database and advised the caller that our records reflected she was the owner of a terrier named Mia.

The owner exclaimed over the phone, “Yes, MIA!”  She was crying tears of joy and shared that Mia was playing in her fenced yard but was stolen seven years ago.  She had searched for Mia for more than a year with no luck. She thought she would never find her. Sgt. Valles was happy to share with Mia’s mom that Mia was healthy, safe, and ready to come back home.

Studies show one in three pets will become lost at some point during their lifetime.  This is why veterinarians strongly encourage microchipping.  Microchipping increases the likelihood of a pet returning home by offering secure, reliable, unique, and permanent identification.

Hundreds of thousands of lost pets have been reunited with their distraught families because the pets were microchipped.  While tags can become lost or damaged and tattoos can fade or be altered, microchips provide permanent identification that cannot be changed.   Due to the presence of a microchip, DACC has reunited owners with pets that had been missing for many years

Mia’s mom left work immediately and arrived at the Palmdale animal care center overwhelmed with so much emotion. Upon seeing Mia, Mia’s mom began crying tears of joy and thanked us repeatedly. Mia remembered her mom, her tail starting wagging and soon her entire body was wiggling attempting to jump out of our animal care attendant’s arms. We are so happy to see the two reunited and Mia was very happy to go back home.

What is a Microchip?

Microchipping is a simple, non-surgical procedure.  Microchipping of animals is a customary practice – millions of dogs and cats, horses, livestock, birds, wildlife, and endangered species are chipped. It is an identification that cannot be lost, falsified, or altered, and is essential to reuniting lost pets with their families. The microchip is approximately the size of a grain of rice and is injected beneath the skin with a needle, similar to a vaccination.  There is no anesthesia required and even the smallest animals such as fish, puppies, and kittens can be safely micro-chipped

Each microchip has a unique code number.  When a special, hand-held scanner is passed over the area where the microchip has been implanted, the scanner “reads” the microchip and displays its code number.  Code numbers are stored in a national database where the owner’s contact information is maintained.  An animal care agency can then retrieve the owner information from the database and contact the owner so they can promptly recover their pet.

Additional Details to Note

Microchipping a pet is a simple process that takes minutes.  If your pet is not micro-chipped, please visit our website https://animalcare.lacounty.gov/microchips/  for more details about DACC’s low-cost vaccine/microchip clinics for dog and cats.  Microchips are $7.50 which does not include registration.  Also, you can reach out to your local veterinarian for micro-chipping.

For more details about the registration process, visit www.akcreunite.org

From my earliest childhood memories, all my interests and activities involved animals. My own personal pets were constant and beloved sources of joy, amusement, and companionship. At age six I began my lifelong passion for horseback riding, which I continue to this day. As I grew older, I began pet sitting and dog walking for neighbors while other girls my age were babysitting. In high school I worked for my pets’ veterinarian, caring for the animals and assisting him in his work. Later jobs at kennels and on farms allowed me to continue doing what I loved.

Adults who saw my love for animals would kindly remark that when I grew up I should marry a veterinarian. This always puzzled and irritated me.  Certainly, I could have a career of my own working with animals. Why would I need to live vicariously through someone else’s career? Fortunately, my wonderful father fully supported my interests and goals and encouraged me to pursue my passion. He often told me how proud he was of me.

After finishing high school, I attended Western Illinois University to earn my degree in animal science (what else!). I was the only woman on the University’s livestock judging team, and one of only a few studying animal science and participating in its related clubs and activities. Nevertheless, I was welcomed and able to freely participate in the programs. My male professors, and the one female professor in the School of Agriculture, treated me as equal to the male students and were supportive of my academic career.

During my junior year, I was hired as a part time animal control officer and animal caretaker for McDonough County, Illinois. My male boss told me several months later that he was very pleased with my performance, especially because he didn’t want to hire me since I was a woman. Thankfully, his wife insisted that he did and my future in animal welfare began.  Thirty five years later I am responsible for running the largest animal care and control agency in the nation, and only the second woman to do so. I wonder what he would think of his decision now! I am grateful to his wife for rising to my defense and giving me entré into the best career I could ever hope for.

Times have changed, and so has the Department of Animal Care and Control. The Department has preserved many historical documents from its early days and I recently read a Department pamphlet written circa 1960. It describes how the “Men of the Pound Department” protect the public and animals. An old policy manual refers to how the “man in charge” schedules officers and assignments.

Why am I mentioning this?

The County of Los Angeles has proclaimed that August 2019 through August 2020 be recognized as the official celebration period of the passage and ratification of the 19^th Amendment. Passed by Congress in 1919 and fully ratified in 1920, the 19^th Amendment granted most American women the right to vote. Unconscionably, women of color did not achieve suffrage until decades later.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, seated, and Susan B. Anthony, standing; Library of Congress

The early pioneers (including men) for women’s suffrage endured ridicule, physical assault, arrest, and ostracization to champion their cause. Believing that women should be afforded better opportunities for education and employment, they agreed that American women were autonomous individuals who deserved their own political identities. In July,1848 Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott organized the first women’s rights convention at Seneca Falls, New York.

Frederick Douglass; Library of Congress

Frederick Douglass, a former slave and a leading spokesman for the abolition of slavery and racial equality, was one of 32 men who signed the Declaration of Sentiments at the Seneca Falls Convention. He continued to advocate for the rights of women until his death in 1895.

Thanks to these brave individuals, the foundation was laid to allow me to pursue a fulfilling career in my own right. I am grateful for the supportive women and men who laid the groundwork for all women and hope the misguided misogynist philosophies I encountered along the way remain in the past.

I believe, in most part, they will. Opportunities for women are greater now than ever before. Our department now has 57% female employees and 43% male employees.  Our female employees are not only employed in “traditionally female roles” but serve as Animal Control Officers, Veterinarians, Managers, and as members of Executive Leadership. In the U.S., more than half of veterinary students are now women. They aren’t relegated to simply Marrying one!

DACC’s first female ACO, Patsy Jenkins, circa 1978

For more than 150 years, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors was composed primarily of men.  Called the “five little kings” to reflect the power and influence of this governing body, that title is no longer applicable. The Board now has a female supermajority, with four of the five Supervisors being women.

The Los Angeles County Initiative on Women and Girls (WGI) was established by the Board in 2016 to examine the systemic issues that lead to inequitable gender outcomes and recommend changes to improve the quality of life for women and girls in the County. The #MeToo movement has brought down many powerful and abusive men, and has forever changed the awareness of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace.

Marcia at age four

The future for women is bright. It is right that we honor and recognize the passionate advocates that ultimately brought about women’s right to vote, and laid the groundwork for women’s equality in our society. This animal-loving former little girl thanks you!

I am pleased to announce that DACC has adopted the term “Socially Conscious Animal Sheltering” (SCAS) to describe its animal care philosophies and procedures. SCAS is a new term being used by forward-thinking animal welfare organizations in a response to the misleading terminology and negative consequences of “no-kill” philosophies and practices.

The term “no-kill” is poorly defined and misunderstood by many members of the public. The term itself implies that a 100% live release rate (LRR) of animals is achieved, but that is not accurate.  “No-Kill” proponents proclaim that a 90% LRR means an animal shelter can be labeled “no-kill”, but there is no data to support this as a justifiable measurement. It is simply a number chosen by “no-kill” proponents without any basis in meaningful and objective longitudinal studies of animal shelter statistics. While one national organization recently released a “dashboard” of statistics for animal shelters throughout the country, it is fraught with errors and cannot be relied upon. People investigating this topic must be educated readers who closely analyze the information provided.

The “no-kill” movement’s use of the LRR for animals as a measure of success fails to consider various key factors. These include, but are not limited to:

• The adoptability of incoming animals such as aggressive dogs, feral cats, and irremediably suffering or terminally ill animals;
• The resources of the animal sheltering agency to provide intervention and rehabilitation services;
• The household income and population transiency of pet owners in the community, including the increasing numbers of pet owners experiencing homelessness;
• Pets that are at the ends of their lives and whose owners surrender them for humane euthanasia because the owners cannot afford to seek this service at a veterinary hospital;
• Low cost resources available to assist pet owners.

Blaming or shaming animal welfare agencies for circumstances beyond their control is unreasonable and has caused great disharmony in the animal welfare field. However, using the “no-kill” label have been an unbelievable fundraising success for both national and local organizations.  Adopting “no-kill” has also been used as the easier response by both local government agencies and private organizations to community activists, rather than doing the difficult work of delving through the multifaceted issues surrounding the care for unwanted animals. Like any social cause, animal sheltering is a complex issue that cannot be explained away with a polemic slogan.

Many “no-kill” practices have created a number of negative consequences in order to meet the artificially established 90% live release rate of animals established by its proponents. These include:

• Refusing admissions to animals they cannot subsequently offer for adoption, thereby denying these animals a safe haven from abandonment or neglect. This practice results in animal abandonment and suffering, and threats to public and animal safety because dangerous animals are not removed from the community;
• Delaying admission through waiting lists for space availability or reduction of hours of operation, intentionally making it difficult for the community to bring in stray or owned animals, resulting in animal abandonment;
• Refusing to accept cats that are unwanted in the community, or re-abandoning the cats to fend for themselves. While trap-neuter-return programs can be successful in the context of saving cats’ lives, they require intensive management to maintain humane conditions for the cats. Simply abandoning cats without thorough and consistent support is inhumane and possibly illegal. There are also significant negative consequences for native wildlife that are preyed upon by outdoor cats. We should care about ALL animals in our communities, including wildlife, and not dismiss their well-being to serve a statistic.
• Refusal to euthanize animals in the shelters, creating severe overcrowding, behavioral trauma, disease outbreaks, animal attacks, and complaints of animal abuse and neglect. A number of “no-kill” shelters have been cited by local authorities for failing to provide humane environments for their animals. Some have been taken over by national organizations to resolve serious disease and neglect situations.
• Releasing dangerous dogs for adoption into the community in order to meet the statistical live release goals, seriously jeopardizing public and animal safety. It is a sad reality that some dogs, through genetics or other factors, simply cannot safely coexist in our society. Many of their victims are other animals. Don’t we care about protecting these potential victims from horrible and violent deaths caused by dangerous dogs?
• Increased budgetary needs of more than five times the original budget in order to pay for staff and programs to strive for a no kill status. In a time where government budgets are stretched thin and nonprofit donations are dropping, finding the gargantuan resources to respond to this demand is not sustainable.

Many animal welfare organizations, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have expressed deep concern over the negative results of “no-kill” practices. The Colorado Veterinary Medical Association has taken a strong opposition to “no-kill” because of the harm its practices have caused.

For these reasons and others, the Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC) has instead adopted the SCAS term for expressing its operating principles. SCAS strives to create the best outcome for all animals by treating them respectfully and alleviating their suffering. The mission is to maximize live outcomes for animals, while also balancing animal well-being and public safety. Fundamental goals of SCAS are provided through DACC and its seven animal care centers to:

• Ensure every unwanted or homeless pet has a safe place to go for shelter and care. DACC care centers will not turn away animals in need of protection and care.
• Making every healthy and safe animal available for adoption. DACC will not offer for adoption animals that are irremediably suffering or dangerous to the community. Shelters that do so create a public aversion to homeless pet adoption, making it more difficult to achieve our missions.
• Assess the medical and behavioral needs of homeless animals and ensure these needs are thoughtfully addressed. DACC, through its medical team and its animal behavior and enrichment team, provides a holistic approach to ensuring each animal’s needs are properly addressed.
• Align DACC policy with the needs of the community. DACC recognizes its responsibility to the public trust, and ensures its programs and policies reflect and support this obligation.
• Alleviate suffering and make appropriate euthanasia decisions. DACC often accepts animals that are irremediably suffering and cannot live without experiencing severe, unremitting pain or other serious health challenges. In these situations, it is most humane to relieve an animal’s suffering with compassionate euthanasia.
• Consider the health and wellness of animals for each community when transferring animals. DACC participates in many animal transport programs where animals are taken from DACC’s care centers to areas of the country that are experiencing a shortage of shelter animals. These win-win programs save thousands of animal lives each year. However, it is also important that animals transported through these programs do not suffer from physical or behavioral defects that could endanger animals or people in their new communities. DACC transferred 7,763 animals last fiscal year to low-intake animal shelters.
• Enhance the human-animal bond through thoughtful placements and post-adoption support. DACC works with potential adopters to ensure animals they select are suitable matches for their lifestyles, the adopter is able to properly care for and handle the animal, and other factors to make certain the placement is successful. DACC provides post-adoption support to adopters to ensure the placement thrives.
• Foster a culture of transparency, ethical decision-making, mutual respect, continual learning, and collaboration. DACC remains committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in meeting its mission of protecting people and animals.

DACC’s live release for dogs is 88%, and cat live release has increased from 26.5% to 50.5% in the past five years. Through collaboration with strategic partners, especially the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), DACC has been able to greatly improve outcomes for animals in its care.

Solely relying on the LRR as a measure of success ignores many other factors. For example:

• As animal ownership improves in a community, fewer adoptable animals will be surrendered to the animal shelter because they are all spayed or neutered and in permanent homes. The only animals entering a shelter will be those that are truly unadoptable (vicious, untreatable, etc.). In this scenario, the LRR will drop to nearly zero because the only animals that arrive will in fact require humane euthanasia. For this reason alone, using the LRR is chasing a false target that will actually drop as the community solves its unwanted animal problem.
• When we drive our cars, there are many measurements that are important to ensure a safe journey. Simply checking the fuel gauge ignores the oil level, tire pressure, and other important indicators. Relying solely on the LRR ignores the health of the animal population in the shelters, the average length of stay for animals in the shelters, number of bites and attacks in the community, and number of animals that died on the street. All of these, and more, are important to evaluating a community’s approach to solving its animal welfare issues.

The term “no-kill” initially served a good purpose several decades ago to bring to light the crises of animal euthanasia in our nation’s animal shelters. However, animal sheltering has evolved tremendously since that time, and the phrase “no-kill” cannot be used to describe or measure modern day animal welfare best practices.

DACC is committed to continuing our efforts through Socially Conscious Animal Sheltering to save animals’ lives and protect our communities. Are you with us?

For more information about Socially Conscious Animal Sheltering, please see: http://colovma.org/category/of-note/

For more information about no-kill concerns, please see: https://www.peta.org/issues/animal-companion-issues/animal-shelters/no-kill-policies-slowly-killing-animals/

For an insightful commentary by spcaLA president Madeline Bernstein on this topic, please see: http://spcalapresident.blogspot.com/

The warm weather is officially here!  Please keep in mind that your furry friends need some extra assistance to keep them cool and healthy.  Pets are extremely susceptible to heat exhaustion/heat stroke and precautions should be taken, especially while participating in outdoor activities.  You can prevent this by taking a few basic steps and watching out for signs of heat stress.

• Avoid strenuous activity on extremely hot days and provide adequate water and shade if your pet will be staying outside. Be aware that an area that appears shady in the morning may not be shady in the afternoon.  A play pool in a shaded area can help outdoor dogs cool off on hot days.  A garage is not a suitable area to house dogs during extreme weather since the temperatures inside can quickly rise without circulating air. Of course, we strongly recommend that pets live inside with their families – after all, they are part of the family too!
• “Short-nosed” (brachycephalic) dogs – Boxers, Pugs, etc., are extremely susceptible to heat stress. If your dog is a short-nosed breed or if he/she is small, overweight, ill, or old, make sure to bring him/her inside the house.  If your dog has long hair, consider giving him/her a haircut for summer.
• Pets should not walk on asphalt on hot days. If it is too hot for your bare foot, it is too hot for your pooch.  Consider walking in early morning or late in the evening or walking on grass when the weather is hot.  If you are an equestrian like me, ride your horse early in the morning or late afternoon/early evening.  Make sure your horse recovers from the exertion well, and consider hosing him/her off during the hotter parts of the day to prevent overheating and helping to keep him/her comfortable.
• Watch out for signs of heat stress – early signs include excessive panting and distress. A pet that is showing early signs of heat stress should be immediately moved to a cooler area and provided with cool (NOT ICE) water to drink.  Gently wet the area behind the ears, around the neck, belly and paw pads.  If the pet shows symptoms of vomiting or diarrhea or appears to be lethargic, get them to a vet immediately.

An important reminder to highlight is to never, ever leave your pet in a parked car.  If you’d like to take your pet with you while running errands or when you travel, make sure you can bring your pet with you when you exit the vehicle.  The temperature inside a vehicle can rise 20 to 30 degrees above the outside temperature in a matter of minutes, putting your pet at risk if left in the car on a warm day.

Many people are aware of the new law that states a person who removes an animal from a vehicle is not criminally liable for actions taken reasonably and in good faith.  Although, this is true IF the person does all of the following:

(1) Determine the vehicle is locked or there is otherwise no reasonable manner for the animal to be removed from the vehicle; and

(2) Believes that forcible entry into the vehicle is necessary to rescue an animal from imminent danger; and

(3) Contacts local authorities – law enforcement, fire department, animal control, or other 911 emergency service; and

(4) Remains with the animal until the emergency responder has arrived; and

(5) Uses no additional force necessary to enter the vehicle; and

(6) Immediately turns the animal over to emergency responders.

A bystander must complete the process above to be protected against any criminal and civil charges.  Breaking into vehicles to rescue trapped animals without following this process may result in paying for property damage or being charged with trespassing.

Owners must ensure their pets are always healthy and protected against the dangers of excessive heat.  Now that you know how to keep your animals safe during the hot summer days, go outside and have fun!

Pet aging is bittersweet, especially if you have a long-time bond with your animal. It can be sad to see the effects of aging, like graying hairs (or even hair loss) and slower gait. But consider these changes as opportunities to pamper your pet and truly make them feel comfortable and loved! If you have recently adopted a senior animal, being able to accommodate their special needs will help you bond together.

Growing old affects animals in many ways, and movement is one of them. Certain breeds of pet, like Dachsunds and Manx cats, are more prone to arthritis than others. Even if your aging pet does not have arthritis, they may have stiff joints from time to time, especially in cold weather. There are many ways you can improve your pet’s quality of life in this regard. Heated beds are adored by older cats and dogs alike. Hydrotherapy, particularly water treadmills for canines, may be helpful. More affordable are other devices like the Help ‘Em Up Harness, which acts like a brace to help dogs with hip and back problems. The harness lifts and supports the hips, belly, and back. The harness can be worn for long periods of time and does not need to be removed for bathroom breaks. If you have a pet that tires easily or has considerable mobility issues, consider using a stroller. Even if you have a larger dog this may be an option, as certain brands can carry animals weighing up to a hundred pounds! This way, your dog can continue to enjoy walks outside without the discomfort.

Aging pets may also need help with hygiene and staying warm. As cats age, they may find the high walls of a litter box to be a cumbersome burden. Thankfully, litter boxes with low walls are available to help cats with this issue. Elderly cats may also have increasing difficulty maintaining their hygiene as they lose flexibility. You may find that your older cat may develop patches of matted hair where there were none previously. Spending more time brushing your cat will help, and if your elderly cat has no patience for a comb you can try using a grooming glove that will allow you to gently brush the cat while providing a pleasant petting sensation for the animal. Of course, some cats and dogs will lose hair as they grow older, and some of these animals may develop obvious balding. These pets may need clothing to help regulate body temperature, especially in cold weather. Even in warm weather it is a good idea to clothe these animals, as those with patchy hair may get sunburned after too much exposure. Some animals lose weight as they grow old, sometimes from age related problems with the thyroid or the kidneys. These animals will also appreciate clothing, as they have less insulation.

Living with senior animals is not always easy, but it can touch the heart like nothing else. Your pet may not even be aware of the changing needs they may have, but it is up to you to recognize that need and try to fill it as you are best able. Why not make the most of your pet’s golden years? The memories you build during this time will last forever.

May 9th, 2019

I am often asked what to do with found kittens! Last July I wrote about fostering kittens, and now with kitten season underway once again I feel it is a good time to revisit the topic. If you are available to help, we need you! (Details are below). However, to answer that frequently asked question, here is what you can do if you stumble upon kittens:

First, observe the kittens from a distance. The kittens may seem to be abandoned, however, the mother cat may not be far away. She could be hunting, or she could be hiding, waiting for you to get away from her babies. Wait a few hours before disturbing the kittens unless they are in obvious danger. Are the kittens sleeping and seem content? The mother is probably around and nearby. If you check the area again and there are fewer kittens, the mother is most likely moving them to a new area. If you cannot be sure, sprinkle flour around where the kittens are located and look for paw prints in the disturbed flour when you revisit the site. If you determine that the mother is present, continue to observe the family from a distance, she will most likely move the kittens to a new area. It is best for the mother to nurse them as they will have a greater chance of survival until about six weeks, when the kittens should be socialized by humans. When the kittens have reached that age you can bring them to your local animal care center.

If the mother is truly absent, you can gather the kittens and contact your local animal care center, or, if you have the time, why not try to nurse them until they are six weeks old? A six week old kitten will weigh approximately one pound. A quick overview on kitten care: You will need kitten formula, bottles, nipples, and bottle cleaning supplies, all of which are available at pet stores. If the kitten weighs less than eight ounces, feed them formula once every three hours. If they weigh eight ounces or more, you can feed them every four hours. The kittens will also need help eliminating waste if they are very young. After every feeding, you will need to stimulate the kitten’s anus with a warm, damp washcloth until the kitten completes their business. If the kitten weighs more than eight ounces, it is about three weeks of age and you can introduce a litter box with non-clumping litter.

If the kitten is infested with fleas, you may gently bathe it in warm water with a few drops of dish soap. You may need to do this more than once. Afterward, be sure to completely dry the kitten so it does not become cold.  The most effective way to do this is to cuddle the kitten after toweling it off, warming it with your body. It is very important that the kittens be kept warm! A cold kitten should see a veterinarian immediately. A dog crate is a good container for kittens. Place a small, covered heating pad set to 75 degrees, but only cover half the crate’s floor so the kitten can move if they get too warm.

If this seems like too much for you to handle, go ahead and bring the motherless kittens to our care center. However, if you believe it would be rewarding for you, we really could use your help in our fostering program! Kittens are delightful fun, and if you are not able to keep an animal long term this is a great way to have a temporary pet. To join our volunteer program, you will need to do the following:

• Complete and submit a volunteer application. (https://animalcare.lacounty.gov/become-a-foster-parent/)
• Attend both a Volunteer Orientation and Foster Care Class.
• Accept the Foster Care Policy Terms and Agreement.

We hope you will consider joining us in fostering kittens!

April 11th, 2019

Spring has sprung and it’s finally warming up in Southern California! The longer days and inviting temperatures are making healthful activities tempting once again. We admit it, jogging in torrential rain is no fun. But even with perfect weather some of us could use a little encouragement to get off the couch.

So if you’ve fallen away from your New Year’s resolution, or are just wanting to move more, we’d like to recommend adopting a dog from one of our seven Animal Care Centers! We have dogs to match your lifestyle no matter what stage of fitness you are in. If you have a few pounds to lose we have pets who can lose weight with you! If you need a less active companion for walks around the block, we have perfect dogs for that as well. (And of course, if you go on 10k runs, we have dogs for that too!) Our Care Centers are ready to help you find the new workout buddy that is best for you and your lifestyle. Once you get into a regular workout habit, your new companion will helpfully insist on sticking to the schedule!

Keep in mind that you can do more with a canine than just run or go on hikes! While dogs do love running with their owners, you can get creative if you prefer other activities. If you like biking, you can take your pooch along too! If you have a pup that has difficulty staying on track, there is a device called a Springer that mounts on your bike and acts as a shock absorbing dog leash. When the weather gets really hot, your pooch will enjoy swimming in your pool if you have one. If you like rollerblading or skiing, your dog will definitely enjoy coming along. (This year Mammoth is open until July!)  If you prefer competitive activities, consider dog agility! In this sport the dog races through an obstacle course while you run alongside and guide them. Competitors meet for matches where they seek to have the best scores.

And if there is a rain shower or two coming up in the calendar, you can even spice up plain old fetch. While your dog is fetching, do some jumping jacks. Or even try to race your dog to catch the ball! Alternatively, there are a lot of videos on Youtube of people working out with their pets. While some are just silly, you really can learn how to do Pup Pilates. Just use your good judgment and don’t force anything on your pet that they do not want to do.

Whatever activities you enjoy doing with your dog, just be sure to start slow and work your way to longer activity times. Even though your dog may have a ton of energy to burn, their foot pads may need some time to grow thick enough for long activities on rougher terrain. Be aware you do not overexert your dog, and always bring water and a foldable water bowl (especially on those hot summer days) so your pooch can rehydrate just like you.