$14M Initiative Boosts LA Animal Services Shelters

The ASPCA, in partnership with LA Animal Services and Best Friends Animal Society, has officially unveiled a comprehensive multi-year initiative providing $14 million in funding and operational assistance to bolster and elevate services at Los Angeles city animal shelters. This unprecedented joint e

The ASPCA, in partnership with LA Animal Services and Best Friends Animal Society, has officially unveiled a comprehensive multi-year initiative providing $14 million in funding and operational assistance to bolster and elevate services at Los Angeles city animal shelters. This unprecedented joint effort signifies the most substantial unified investment these two prominent national organizations have ever made in a single municipal shelter network.

Matt Bershadker, President and CEO of the ASPCA, emphasized the transformative potential of this project by stating, “If we can assist LA Animal Services—one of the nation's largest shelter systems—in creating a future where every animal enjoys the care, compassion, and safety they truly deserve, we won’t merely be reshaping one city; we’ll be demonstrating to communities nationwide the remarkable possibilities that lie ahead.”

Under this pioneering program, LA Animal Services stands to gain $7 million in grant funding from the ASPCA and Best Friends Animal Society. These funds will finance 23 essential new staff roles, encompassing expanded teams for adoptions and fostering, as well as dedicated specialists focusing on community cat initiatives. Furthermore, the ASPCA, working hand-in-hand with Best Friends, will place four seasoned professionals directly within LAAS facilities. These experts will aid leadership in developing and executing programs, while also delivering comprehensive training and ongoing support to shelter personnel.

Mayor Karen Bass highlighted the evolving landscape of animal sheltering, noting, “In recent years, animal sheltering across the country has experienced a profound transformation—from mere housing of animals to a strong emphasis on achieving positive outcomes. This landmark investment will empower LA Animal Services staff to prioritize these positive results even more effectively, positioning the department as a leader in responsible, transparent sheltering practices. The ultimate aim is to assist pet owners and facilitate animals finding permanent, loving homes. I extend my deepest gratitude to the ASPCA and Best Friends Animal Society for these forward-thinking grants, which will bolster the department’s committed staff, volunteers, and New Hope partners in promoting humane care and preserving the bonds between people and their pets.” Operating as one of the country's premier municipal shelter systems, LAAS manages around 50,000 animals annually and handles over 20,000 emergency responses involving animals and individuals in peril.

Should this proposal receive approval from key decision-makers, the ASPCA and Best Friends will collaborate closely with LAAS leadership to roll out strategic enhancements centered on three fundamental priorities:

• Preventing avoidable shelter admissions through proactive community engagement efforts;
• Enhancing in-shelter care and operational workflows to guarantee animals benefit from prompt, well-coordinated attention;
• Boosting favorable outcomes for animals, including higher rates of adoptions, fostering opportunities, and reunions with their original owners.

The ASPCA and Best Friends are fully dedicated to backing LAAS throughout an initial three-year commitment. Within this alliance, LAAS pledges to sustain critical positions and pursue ongoing program developments for an extra three years, fostering enduring benefits from this investment across a full six-year span and into the future.

Annette G. Ramirez, Interim General Manager for LA Animal Services, elaborated on the broader implications, saying, “The joint backing from the ASPCA and Best Friends goes far beyond addressing LA Animal Services’ short-term operational requirements. It reflects a profound dedication to revitalizing the vision for animal welfare throughout the city, aimed at keeping pets and people united. This support strengthens shelter staff and paves a quicker, more streamlined route for animals under our care to secure affectionate forever homes.”

Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society, added, “Collaboration holds the power to drive permanent, systemic transformations in Los Angeles. This partnership will stand as a historic milestone, one we will reflect on knowing that animal welfare in the city was irrevocably improved through this innovative alliance.”

This endeavor represents the inaugural instance where the ASPCA and Best Friends have pooled resources on such a grand scale to aid a solitary shelter system. Nevertheless, both entities have long championed animal welfare in the Los Angeles region. Since 2014, the ASPCA has extended aid to animals in under-resourced Los Angeles communities via hands-on care services and targeted programmatic funding. It has also teamed up with municipal, county, and private entities, distributing over $16 million in grants. Key achievements include spaying or neutering more than 167,000 pets and shelter animals at the ASPCA Spay/Neuter Clinic in South Los Angeles; delivering over 56,000 primary veterinary care visits through fixed and mobile clinics; averting more than 14,000 kittens from overburdened shelters via its kitten fostering initiative; relocating over 70,000 dogs and cats from local shelters to partner organizations for enhanced adoption prospects; and championing robust animal welfare legislation at local, regional, and state levels.

United in purpose, the ASPCA and Best Friends Animal Society are joining forces with LAAS to introduce swift enhancements today, while constructing a more robust, sustainable shelter infrastructure for tomorrow.