City, County to Open ‘No Kill’ Animal Shelter

Stepping into the escalating movement to try to find homes for lost or abandoned dogs and cats, the city and Los Angeles County have agreed to start a “no kill” shelter in town.

The El Segundo shelter, which will be the first of its kind by the county Department of Animal Care and Control, will rely heavily on volunteers and a city-aided marketing program to help find homes for animals that might otherwise be euthanized, according to El Segundo Mayor Mike Gordon.

Officials are looking for a suitable location for the shelter and are studying possible price tags. Gordon said the project grew from residents’ dissatisfaction with the low-cost, basic services the city began purchasing from the county two years ago when it switched contract from the SPCA.

In renewing its county contract recently, the city not only increased the amount of services it is purchasing but also worked with the county to launch the new shelter and adoption program.

“We hope we can become a banner-carrier for no kill shelters throughout the area,” Gordon said, adding that the city is hoping neighboring cities will join in using and supporting the shelter.

The county will offer information about adoptable pets on a Web site. The city will feature homeless animals on its local cable TV channel--and, Gordon said, may even bring a dog or cat or two to each council meeting in hopes it can go home with a new owner.