LA County Board

20. Save a Dog, Save a Life: Proclaiming “Adopt a Shelter Dog Month in Los\nAngeles County”\nRecommendation as submitted by Supervisor Solis: Proclaim the month of\nOctober as “Adopt a Shelter Dog Month in Los Angeles County;” instruct the\nDirector of Animal Care and Control to take the following actions:\nPromote the proclamation of October as “Adopt a Shelter Dog Month in\nLos Angeles County” on social media platforms, including positive stories\nabout the work the Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC)\nshelters do to take care of dogs and any successful adoption stories;\nHold an “Adopt a Shelter Dog” community adoption event for on-the-spot\nadoption in the month of October at a minimum of one community site in\neach Supervisorial District and report back to the Board in writing within\n60 days on number of adoptions at these events;\nUpdate online pet profile listings to include more engaging photos and\ndescriptions of animals, and, if available, link videos in the descriptions;\nReport back to the Board in writing in 90 days with available data on\nbackyard breeding, owner surrenders that covers five years, and identify\ntwo areas that see high rates of pet abandonment in each Supervisorial\nDistrict;\nReport back to the Board in writing in 90 days with an outreach and\nengagement plan that is achievable and will be acted on throughout the\n2025 calendar year that would provide residents living within the\nDepartment’s jurisdiction, information on pet owner legal responsibilities,\nanimal abuse laws, and free services that are available to decrease pet\nabandonment, such as the Pets Are Family program, mobile veterinary\nservices, with the report to include the feasibility of starting an “Owner\nRetention Hotline” where community members can call to inquire about\nlow-cost or free services that could encourage ownership retention;\nCollaborate with the Director of Economic Opportunity to expand\nvolunteer workforce, establish Youth@Work program, and explore\nfeasibility of establishing a veterinary internship program, and report\nback to the Board in writing in 120 days on the progress;\nDirect the Chief Executive Officer to promote the County’s proclamation of\nOctober being “Adopt a Shelter Dog Month in Los Angeles County” via the\nfollowing:\nPost the proclamation across the County’s website and social media\nplatforms and post events and ongoing service programs offered by the\nDepartment of Animal Care and Control; and\nEncourage County employees to adopt a dog from a County animal care\ncenter;\nInstruct the Director of Mental Health to post a graphic on the Department of\nMental Health’s website and social media promoting the proclamation of October\nis “Adopt A Shelter Dog Month in Los Angeles County” with a link to DACC\nanimal care centers and provide background information on how pets benefit\nmental health; and\nInstruct the Director of Public Health to post a graphic on the Department of\nPublic Health’s website and social media promoting the proclamation of October\nis “Adopt A Shelter Dog Month in Los Angeles County” with a link to the\nDACC’s animal care centers and provide background information on how pets\nbenefit health and wellness. (24-4508)