Dear Friends,
Your action on this matter is extremely important. The City has proposed a $1.8 million cut in the budget for Animal Services. If approved, it is estimated that 4,000 to 11,000 more pets will be euthanized in the shelters each year. The cuts will also lead to the closure of up to two animal shelters and the loss of 8 Animal Control Officers, 14 Animal Care Technicians, 3 Registered Veterinary Technicians, 4 Clerical Staff, and 2 Supervisors.
Last year, community backlash successfully led to the reinstatement of a program offering free spay and neuter vouchers to low income pet owners, which had been eliminated due to budget concerns — we each have a powerful voice that can successfully bring about change if we make ourselves heard.
The City Council Budget & Finance Committee is taking public comment on the proposed budget cuts to Animal Services TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, April 28th between 1pm – 5pm at City Hall – 200 N. Spring Street, Room 340.
Please consider attending the Committee meeting to voice your opposition to these budget cuts that will harm our community and senselessly put the lives of so many innocent animals at risk. The Committee Meeting Agenda and other information is available here: http://ens.lacity.org/clk/committeeagend/clkcommitteeagend1866035_04272010.pdf.
If you cannot attend the meeting, please email your City Council Member to let them know how destructive these cuts will be to our community (to find your District enter your address under Neighborhood Services here: http://www.lacity.org/index.htm). Those marked with an asterisk next to the district below sit on the Budget & Finance Committee and have special power to craft amendments and make recommendations to the full City Council before the final budget vote:
District 1 – councilmember.reyes@lacity.org
District 2 – councilmember.greuel@lacity.org
*District 3 – councilmember.zine@lacity.org
District 4 – councilmember.labonge@lacity.org
*District 5 – councilmember.koretz@lacity.org
District 6 – councilmember.cardenas@lacity.org
District 7 – councilmember.alarcon@lacity.org
*District 8 – councilmember.parks@lacity.org
*District 9 – councilmember.perry@lacity.org
District 10 – councilmember.wesson@lacity.org
*District 11 – councilmember.rosendahl@lacity.org
*District 12 – councilmember.smith@lacity.org
District 13 – councilmember.garcetti@lacity.org
*District 14 – councilmember.huizar@lacity.org
District 15 – councilmember.hahn@lacity.org
Please let your voice be heard on behalf of the animals!
Please don’t cut the Budget for animal life and well- being. It hard enough as it is to keep these animal’s alive and give them a fighting chance. Spay and neutering is a must to keep the animal population down. We NEED low income family’s to be able to get that done at a low income cost as well as the shelter’s being maintained for the dignity of the animal’s. Million’s of unwanted animal’s die each year. Please don’t disregard their right’s. They deserve a chance and it is our duty as American’s to respect and take care of them. To Budget cut animal services is not the answer and only add’s to the problem. We are not a third world country and our animal’s should be treated with value and respect. They are a life too.
It’s absolutely unheard of to cut ANYTHING from the budget for Animal Services, what a Shameful suggestion… The Animals are already suffering so much because of Human beings irresponsible behavior and ‘ways’, this is out of the question, in other words: it’s not an option!!!
Please have some decency, respect and self-respect and don’t prey on innocent animals.
And why are you spending 42mill on a CRUEL Elephant Exhibit that will still be too small and cruel for Elephants???
Dear Council member Koretz. My partner and I have been involved in animal rescue for over 10 years. In that time we have seen our shelters,both city and county, get over run with homeless pets. We do our best to rescue as many as we can yearly and find loving homes for them. The conditions some of these animals are in already are deplorable. With further budget cuts I know that their state will only worsen. Please vote against this measure and help our shelters to not get their budgets cut any further.