About the editor: Thank you for exposing the substandard conditions at the City of Los Angeles animal shelters. This discussion is long overdue. Although dogs can be man’s best friend, shelters also take care of cats, rabbits, hamsters and other helpless animals.
My daughter has volunteered at our local animal shelter for years, doing what she can to help with what would normally be human resources work. Ensuring the cleanliness of food, water and habitat is all too often delayed, and with alarming results.
Our city must muster the will and resources to drastically improve the care of these creatures in its care.
Linda Alexander, Los Angeles
..
About the editor: Recently I went to the North Central animal shelter in the city of Los Angeles to see if my lost cat was there. It wasn’t, but I haven’t been there in years and was totally impressed with how it is now.
The shelter was clean, bright, and had areas to meet and play with the animals. There were many helpful staff, including in the small animal room. Each animal had food, water and was clean. There was no smell anywhere.
Unfortunately there seemed to be a number of caged dogs. Not surprisingly, nobody has enough time to routinely take them all out for a walk.
Rather than tearing down the shelters, The Times should focus on whose fault it is: people who abandon their pets because they’re uncomfortable in some way, and people who pay $2,000 for a “purebred” dog instead of adopting one .
Lore Spangler, Los Angeles
..
About the publisher: One barrier to adopting shelter dogs that I rarely see mentioned is insurance company breed restrictions.
I want to adopt a rescue dog. A large percentage of shelter and rescue dogs are wholly or partly pit bull, rottweiler, chow chow, or doberman pinscher. My homeowners insurance with Safeco does not cover a home with a dog that is wholly or partly of one of these breeds.
I looked around for alternative insurance. Any company that does not have dog breed restrictions will offer inferior coverage at a higher price.
Ellen Nadel, Los Angeles
..
About the publisher: Thanks for exposing the catastrophe at animal shelters.
Stop raising animals, folks. Get pets at an animal shelter. And while you’re at it, stop breeding humans. Eight billion people on the planet – crazy.
Ann Bradley, Los Angeles
..
About the editor: If you are as disgusted as I am by the city at the state of our shelters, please call and write to your councilor and mayor about this.
Now more money, more staff and improved facilities are needed.
William Majors, Woodland Hills