Los Angeles Shelters Need People to Adopt, Not Shop

Los Angeles and California are grappling with a severe crisis in their animal shelters, leading to the tragic and unnecessary deaths of tens of thousands of pets. Best Friends Animal Society, a prominent animal welfare organization, has highlighted the urgent need for action as part of their campaign to end the killing of dogs and cats in American shelters by 2025.

Recent research from Best Friends Animal Society revealed a troubling trend: in 2023, over 66,000 dogs and cats died in California shelters, marking a significant increase in fatalities compared to the previous year. Specifically, 22,000 more dogs were killed in 2023 than in 2022, a 46% rise. Additionally, upwards of 40,900 cats perished simply because they were temporarily homeless.

Brittany Thorn, Executive Director of Best Friends Animal Society, emphasized the critical role of community involvement in addressing this issue. “Currently, shelters are relying heavily on rescue partners to give them some relief, but we need the community to step in as part of the solution,” Thorn stated. She urged Angelenos to Support local shelters through adoption, volunteering, fostering, and advocating for no-kill resolutions with local policymakers.

For the greater Los Angeles area, which includes two of the largest shelter systems in the nation, creating a no-kill community starts with enhancing foster programs, training staff specifically for adoption facilitation, and effectively marketing animals in need of homes. These steps are vital in reducing the number of unnecessary deaths and finding permanent homes for shelter pets. Nationally, the pet adoption landscape also shows worrying signs. In 2023, 2.3 million dogs and cats were adopted, a decrease of 345,000 since 2019. This decline in adoptions coincides with an increase in pets being purchased from breeders and stores. Best Friends Animal Society estimates that 415,000 adoptable dogs and cats were killed in shelters last year.

Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society, pointed out a potential solution: “Roughly seven million Americans are planning to acquire a pet this year, and if just six percent more people chose to adopt versus purchase their pets, we would end the killing of dogs and cats in our nation’s shelters.”

Addressing the shelter crisis in Los Angeles and beyond requires a concerted effort from the community, policymakers, and animal welfare organizations. By choosing adoption, fostering pets, and supporting local shelters, individuals can play a significant role in saving lives and moving towards a future where no healthy or treatable pets are euthanized in shelters.

We encourage everyone thinking of getting a pet to only adopt instead of shopping and use this amazing pet adoption search tool by WildWatchers to find shelter animals near you!

Read more resources about adopting animals on One Green Planet, including 7 Reasons to Adopt Your Next Furry Best Friend, 5 Reasons Why Everyone Should Adopt a Pet, and These Heartwarming Before and After Pictures of Adopted Rescue Animals Will Make Your Day! Read tips for pet adoptions and what to consider before adopting an animal.

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Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

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