Animal Agency Sharply Criticized at Hearing

A state Senate hearing on allegations that the city’s Animal Regulation Department kills and neglects too many pets produced such heart-wrenching stories that it brought several speakers and audience members to tears.

The hearing was called by state Sen. Tom Hayden (D-Los Angeles) in response to a lawsuit by animal activists who charge that the Animal Regulation Department fails to abide by its own care and euthanasia rules.

But the hearing was a one-sided debate because Los Angeles Animal Regulation officials declined to address the charges on the advice of the city attorney’s office because of the pending suit.

Perhaps the most moving story came from Phyllis Becker, a Studio City resident whose deaf and blind dog, Akasha, escaped from her home only to be killed at the West San Fernando Valley Shelter two hours after it was impounded.

Becker recounted the story with tears as several audience members dabbed at their eyes with tissues.

Although a city policy calls for all shelters to hold a pet for at least five days before it is killed, Becker said department officials told her the dog was euthanized because it was comatose and suffered from heat stroke. The dog had no collar but had an identifying microchip embedded under its skin.

The hearing attracted about 40 people, mostly animal rights activists who have long criticized the department over the operation of its kennels, where about 50,000 dogs, cats and other animals are put to death each year.