Introduction
The City of Los Angeles is at a crossroads. Proposed budget cuts threaten to close half of the city’s animal shelters, drastically increase euthanasia rates, and create a dangerous public health crisis. This decision doesn’t just affect the animals — it affects the entire community. It’s crucial for all residents to understand what’s happening and why it’s urgent to act.
👉 SIGN THE PETITION to help save our shelters!
What’s Being Proposed?
Mayor Karen Bass’ proposed 2025-26 city budget includes deep cuts across many departments, but few are hit as hard as Los Angeles Animal Services (LAAS). The proposal would slash nearly $5 million from LAAS’s operating budget, aiming to address a massive $1 billion citywide deficit.
If passed, the cuts will:
- Lay off 62 critical employees, including animal care technicians, animal control officers, and veterinary staff.
- Permanently eliminate 60 additional vacant positions that the shelters need to function properly.
- Force the closure of three out of six shelters: Harbor, West Los Angeles, and West Valley.
This move would leave only three shelters to serve the entire sprawling city of Los Angeles — a logistical nightmare for both the public and the animals who rely on these services for survival.
✨ Official Documents:
Why You Should Care
You might think “this doesn’t affect me” — but it absolutely will. Without sufficient shelter space, euthanasia rates will skyrocket. Animals will be killed not because they are sick or dangerous, but simply because there will be no room to house them.
Worse still, many animals will be turned away entirely, left to fend for themselves on the streets. This creates a public health crisis:
- Stray animals will roam neighborhoods, leading to increased dog bites, car accidents, and the spread of disease.
- Emergency response times will be delayed because animal control officers will have to cover far larger areas with fewer staff.
- Shelter access will be limited, making it much harder for residents to adopt or rehome pets, especially for low-income families without easy access to transportation.
But it doesn’t stop there. Homeowners and taxpayers will see real financial impacts too:
Property values could decline in neighborhoods overwhelmed by stray animals, making it harder to sell or refinance homes.
Home insurance rates could spike due to an increase in liability claims from dog bites and property damage caused by stray animals.
Auto insurance premiums could climb because more accidents involving animals will occur.
Taxes may rise as the city struggles to fund emergency services, public health responses, and street clean-up efforts.
In short: these budget cuts don’t just endanger animals — they endanger your wallet, your safety, and your quality of life.
👉 SIGN THE PETITION to demand a better future for LA’s animals and communities.
What Happens if Shelters Close? (Our Predictions)
✨ Infographic: Effects of Closing Three Shelters Timeline (Insert Here)
Immediate (Day 1-2)
On the first day alone, remaining shelters will reach overcapacity. Staff will have to make immediate decisions on euthanizing animals to create space. People seeking to surrender pets will be turned away. Emergency animal control calls will be delayed.
Short-Term (Week 1 – Month 1)
Within a week, diseases such as kennel cough, parvovirus, feline panleukopenia, and upper respiratory infections will begin to spread rapidly in overcrowded shelters. Stray animals carrying parasites like fleas and ticks will appear in increasing numbers across neighborhoods, creating significant public health hazards. The remaining shelters, operating far beyond safe capacity, will face a total collapse of services. By the end of the first month, the city will be grappling with a full-blown animal welfare and public safety crisis.
One Year Later
By the one-year mark, financial costs to the city will soar. Emergency services, lawsuits, and public health interventions could easily rack up $10-20 million. Factoring in the impact on citizens and insurance industries, the real cost could be over $100 million.
This isn’t just a humanitarian issue — it’s an economic disaster in the making.
The Long-Term Fallout: 2 Years, 5 Years, and 10 Years
✨ Infographic: 2-5-10 Year Projection (Insert Here)
At 2 Years: Without shelters, stray animals breed uncontrollably. Diseases like rabies, mange, and parasites spread unchecked. The city is forced to spend $30-50 million annually just trying to contain the situation.
At 5 Years: Los Angeles could become known nationwide for its street dog problem. Tourists avoid the city. Real estate values dip. Auto insurance rates climb. Public hospitals see more animal attack injuries. Total estimated cost to the city and its citizens: $200-400 million.
At 10 Years: By the decade mark, LA could be facing a cumulative cost of over $1 billion. Public confidence in leadership plummets. It will take generations to rebuild the animal welfare system that was allowed to collapse.
Who Are the Decision Makers?
The following elected officials have the power to prevent this catastrophe:
- 👨💼 Bob Blumenfield — Los Angeles City Council, District 3
- 👨👩👦 Hugo Soto-Martinez — Los Angeles City Council, District 13
- 👨👩👦 John Lee — Los Angeles City Council, District 12
- 👨👩👦 Karen Bass — Mayor of Los Angeles
EDIT: Here’s a list of City Council Emails:
councilmember.hernandez@lacity.org
Councilmember.Nazarian@lacity.org
councilmember.blumenfield@lacity.org
contactCD4@lacity.org
councilmember.yaroslavsky@lacity.org
councilmember.padilla@lacity.org
councilmember.rodriguez@lacity.org
councilmember.harris-dawson@lacity.org
councilmember.price@lacity.org
cd10@lacity.org
councilmember.park@lacity.org
councilmember.Lee@lacity.org
councilmember.soto-martinez@lacity.org
Councilmember.Jurado@lacity.org
councilmember.mcosker@lacity.org
Let them know this is unacceptable.
Sample Email to Send
Subject: Save Los Angeles Animal Shelters – Oppose Budget Cuts
Dear [Name],
As a resident and advocate for the humane treatment of animals, I am urging you to oppose the proposed budget cuts to Los Angeles Animal Services. Closing three shelters and laying off essential staff will not only harm thousands of innocent animals but will create serious public health and safety risks for our city.
Please protect our shelters, our animals, and our communities. Use the allocated Unappropriated Balance funds to restore Animal Services’ budget in full.
Los Angeles can and must do better.
Thank you for your leadership,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Zip Code]
[Optional: Phone Number]
How You Can Help
There’s no time to waste. Here’s what you can do right now:
✅ SIGN THE PETITION and share it with your friends and family. ✅ Send an email to decision makers — even one message makes a difference. ✅ Spread awareness by posting about the issue on social media. ✅ Attend protests and city hall meetings to make your voice heard.
Save LAs Animals!
The future of Los Angeles’ animal welfare system hangs in the balance. This is about more than animals — it’s about protecting our neighborhoods, our public health, and our shared humanity.
Los Angeles has a choice: 🐾 Protect our animals, our citizens, and our communities…
❌ Or pay dearly for decades to come.
Don’t let the worst happen.
**👉 **SIGN THE PETITION NOW!
Let’s make Los Angeles a city we’re proud of — for everyone, fur and human alike.
cover photo by MiaX
SamProof has been creating videos and live streams since 2005. He currently works for Mobcrush.com and is the creator of Cuteavalanche and the livestream.
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