NEWS RELEASE
City of Los Angeles ı Department of Animal Services
221 N. Figueroa Street, Suite 500, Los Angeles, California 90012 / www.LAAnimalServices.com
For Immediate Release Contact: Brenda F. Barnette, General Manger
September 1, 2010 Email: Brenda.barnette@lacity.org
Phone: (213) 482-9558
DOG RESCUE HAMPERS PROSECUTION
Los Angeles – On August 27, 2010, many people in the community watched the news as Los Angeles Animal Control Officers and Los Angeles Police Department Officers went to a residence in South Los Angeles where neighbors reported that two dogs were abandoned at a residence. The neighbors had been providing the dogs with food and water.
LA Animal Control Officers responded to the location to investigate the allegations. They observed one dog in the garage and one dog in the house and found them to be in fair condition. Officers provided them food and water and left a notice on the door stating the dogs would be impounded in 24 hours.
A Good Samaritan, Hans, heard of the incident and arrived on the scene to help the dogs. He went past the officers and entered the house and came out carrying one dog. “While Animal Services has a protocol for responding to these situations, I understand why people like Hans are motivated to help. People are tired of animals suffering at the hands of the people who abandon them” said Brenda Barnette, Los Angeles Animal Services General Manager.
In this situation, the dogs were safe and the interference in this case compromised the ability to prosecute the guilty person(s). The attention to the incident also resulted in another Good Samaritan breaking in and taking the second dog later that night.
The L.A. Animal Services Department is committed to protecting the people and animals in our community and to following protocols that will result in collecting evidence that will lead to prosecution of people who abuse or abandon animals.
If you want to get involved, the L.A. Animal Services Department will begin a training program for Reserve Animal Control Officers (RACO) in November. These volunteers will receive the same training as animal control officers receive and have the same authority. The program requires a one-year commitment to volunteer 16 hours per month as a RACO, following a six month training course.
For more information or assistance call LA Animal Services at 1-888-452LA-PET1/1-888-452-7381
(TTY Hearing impaired: 877-875-8205) or visit the website at www.LAAnimalServices.com