LA’s save rate reached 92% for dogs in 2017
The City of Los Angeles has reached its “no-kill” goal for dogs under the care of the Department of Animal Services, according to Mayor Eric Garcetti.
“Every pet should have a home where they are loved, cared for, and valued,” said Mayor Garcetti. “The City’s extraordinary partnership with the No-Kill Los Angeles Coalition has helped save the lives of hundreds of thousands of animals. Every Angeleno who loves animals can help by adopting, fostering, and volunteering at their local shelters.”
The City first committed to working toward no-kill — defined as 90% of dogs and cats entering shelters eventually leaving alive — in 2012. In 2017, L.A.’s live/save rate reached 92.4% for dogs and 81.3% for cats.
Overall, the City’s total live/save rate in those six years increased from 57.7% to 87.2% — saving the lives of more than 227,000 animals. Led by Best Friends Animal Society, the No-Kill Los Angeles Coalition has been a key partner in this achievement.
“Putting an end to the senseless euthanasia of domestic animals in our L.A. shelters has been one of my lifelong goals,” said Councilmember Paul Koretz of the 5th District and chair of the Personnel and Animal Welfare Committee. “For more than thirty years I have worked on animal welfare issues including a ban on puppy mills. I couldn’t be more delighted that in the same year the State of California has banned pet stores from selling domestic animals (modeled after my local ordinance), we have also come so close to fully-reaching No-Kill in Los Angeles.”
Over the next several months, Mayor Garcetti and the Department of Animal Services will launch a campaign dedicated to raising awareness of spay/neuter laws, cat adoptions, and kitten fostering. Los Angeles Animal Services is also exploring options for expanding the City’s Spay and Neuter program.
In addition, new positions will be created to oversee the day-to-day work of reaching No-Kill. The new positions include an Assistant General Manager of Life-Saving and Life-Saving Coordinators in every city shelter — all of whom will use real-time data to guide strategies geared toward preserving animals’ lives.