L.A says fewer dogs, cats being euthanized
The Los Angeles Animal Services Department took in more dogs and cats in the first half of the current fiscal year than last, but it also euthanized fewer.
In the last six months of 2006, the city’s system of six shelters took in 25,259 dogs and cats. For the same period in the previous year, the shelters took in 24,645 dogs and cats. From July to December of last year, 11,337 dogs and cats were put down, compared with 11,619 for the same period in 2005.
Euthanasia numbers for dogs and cats have continued to be lower the first few months of 2007 compared with that period a year ago. From January to April 2006, 3,198 cats and dogs were euthanized. Over the same period this year, 2,774 were put down, according to Ed Boks, general manager of the department.
“This is a real battle, and it points out the importance of Assembly Bill 1634,” he said, referring to the proposed California Healthy Pets Act, introduced this year. The bill would mandate spaying and neutering of dogs and cats unless a special permit is acquired. “We have to turn the faucet off.... We’re not going to adopt our way out of this.”
The statistics, which the department puts on its website, laanimalservices.com, are at odds with a statement in the department’s annual report, recently posted on the website. The report estimates that, based on the numbers for July-December 2006, the euthanasia rate might increase a couple of percentage points for the fiscal year that ends June 30.
“We are going to look at the report and see if it needs to be corrected,” Boks said. He confirmed the raw data on intake and euthanasia as correct.
Overall, the shelter took in fewer dogs and cats in calendar year 2006 than in calendar year 2005. It also euthanized fewer dogs and cats in calendar year 2006.
“We saw 39,000 spay and neuter vouchers redeemed in 2006,” Boks said. “We’re on track to do 44,000 in 2007.”
The city shelters are also offering a discount on adoption fees in a promotion that starts today and runs through next Sunday.
Boks said the sheltering of animals “is a difficult balance. We want to achieve no-kill, but we don’t want to overcrowd the shelters.”
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