LA Mayor's Budget Cuts Threaten Shelter Dogs' Food and Freedom
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has proposed major cuts to the city’s Animal Services Department. The plan includes removing all funding for food and reducing the medicine budget. A popular dog exercise programme now faces an uncertain future as a result. The mayor’s proposal targets the Dogs Playing for Life programme, which lets shelter dogs leave their cages for exercise and social time. This initiative, currently costing $1.6 million, would lose all city funding under the new plan. Without it, dogs may spend even more time confined.
Mayor Bass also suggested cutting the entire food budget for the department. Instead, she proposed relying on private donations to feed the animals. If donations fall short, shelter dogs and cats could go without meals.
In response, animal advocate Melissa Klaskin has called on residents to contact their council members. She urges them to push for keeping food and medicine in the budget. Klaskin argues that even those who don’t care about animals should see the cuts as cruel. She stresses that the animals affected cannot speak for themselves, so people must act as their voice. The proposed budget changes would leave the Dogs Playing for Life programme without city support. Shelter animals could face food shortages if private donations do not cover the gap. The final decision now rests with the city council.
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