ASPCA Commends L.A. City Council for Passing Legislation to Create More Pet-Friendly Housing in Los Angeles

NEW YORK– The ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®)commended the Los Angeles City Council for approving an ordinance that requires all housing financed by the city’s Housing and Community Investment Department to be pet-friendly. Sponsored by Councilmember Paul Koretz, this motion will help keep pets and families together as well as reduce shelter intake rates by removing housing barriers for low-income and homeless pet owners.

“Devoted pet owners who are willing and able to care for their animals shouldn’t be forced to part with them due to a lack of affordable housing options,” said Susan Riggs, senior director of ASPCA Government Relations for the Western region. “We are grateful to Councilmember Koretz for shepherding this policy forward as it will provide much needed relief to low-income pet owners.”

A national study conducted by the ASPCA revealed that those who rent are more likely to need to rehome their pets for housing issues than for any other reason. Between 2011 and 2015, 23 percent of all dog surrenders and 19 percent of all cat surrenders in L.A. were due to a lack of pet-friendly housing options. This adds up to nearly 30,000 dogs and cats being surrendered to shelters each year for housing issues in Los Angeles alone.

The ASPCA operates a fully-subsidized spay/neuter clinic out of the South Los Angeles Animal Shelter, along with two mobile clinics that provide no-cost spay/neuter and basic veterinary care services in Los Angeles. As of June 2018, the ASPCA has performed 50,000 surgeries out of the standalone clinic and mobile units. In addition to this work in the City, the ASPCA is stationed at two of L.A. County’s Animal Care Centers with the goal to increase accessibility of resources to pet-owning families, and as a result, improve the welfare of L.A.’s animals.

For more information about the ASPCA or to join the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade, please visit www.aspca.org.