Marcia Mayeda, Director of Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control, has continually violated the public trust by allowing her department to break Department policy and procedure, Board of Supervisor policy and procedure, and State and Federal law without holding anybody accountable. By signing this petition, you are demanding that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors fire Marcia Mayeda. In addition, you are demanding that the Auditor-Controller's office initiate an internal investigation and he Los Angeles County District Attorney perform a full investigation into the alleged abuse and neglect of animals by the employees of the Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control.
If you are a tax paying citizen of Los Angeles County, CA, please state so in the comment section.
ANIMAL LOVERS SUE LOS ANGELES COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL DEPARTMENT TO END THE UNLAWFUL AND ABUSIVE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS
The national No Kill Advocacy Center, Cathy Nguyen, a volunteer animal rescuer, and Rebecca Arvizu, a Los Angeles County taxpayer and animal rescuer, have jointly filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles County, its Department of Animal Care and Control, and the Department’s Director, Marcia Mayeda. The lawsuit alleges unlawful and abusive treatment of animals at all six Los Angeles County animal shelters.
Among the allegations in the 29-page complaint filed today in Superior Court, the County Department of Animal Care and Control routinely:
Kills healthy and treatable animals before their state mandated holding period expires;
Misclassifies animals as "ill" or "injured" in order to kill them before their holding period expires even though the animals are not irremediably suffering as required by state law;
Kills lost animals without making reasonable attempts to find the animals’ owners;
Fails to provide adequate veterinary care to impounded animals, resulting in animal deaths;
Fails to provide adequate nutrition, water, shelter and exercise to impounded animals and to treat the animals humanely and kindly;
Refuses to release animals to rescue groups that are willing to care for the animals until adoptive homes can be found and, instead, kills the animals.
In addition, the County Department of Animal Care and Control unlawfully retaliates against animal rescuers and volunteers who publicize its unlawful treatment of animals.
The lawsuit asks a Superior Court Judge to order Los Angeles County, its Department of Animal Care and Control, and Department Director Mayeda to comply with state laws that protect animals from arbitrary and inhumane treatment. The lawsuit is being handled by the Los Angeles law firm of Eisenberg, Raizman, Thurston, and Wong, LLP.
"The Los Angeles County animal shelter system is supposed to provide a reasonable safety net of care for lost and abandoned animals," said Nathan J. Winograd, Director of the No Kill Advocacy Center. "Instead, the system betrays the trust of the citizens of Los Angeles County by failing to treat the animals humanely and kindly."
"Los Angeles County and its Department of Animal Control fought the existing animal protection laws that safeguard shelter animals when those laws were pending in the legislature. They fought the laws after they became effective through a regulatory challenge. Now, it appears they have decided they are just going to ignore those laws," stated Winograd. "But Los Angeles County shelters are supposed to enforce laws related to animal welfare, not violate the laws themselves and then retaliate against rescue groups who want to save these animals and make their demands public. This is the worst form of hypocrisy and cannot be tolerated—especially since animals are not only suffering, they are needlessly being killed because of it."
"I have tried to work with the Department and Director Mayeda regarding the conditions at Los Angeles County shelters for many months to no avail," said plaintiff Cathy Nguyen, who works with rescue groups trying to save animals that Los Angeles County shelters are putting to death. "I cannot sit quietly and do nothing about this and have no choice at this point but to demand that they follow the law."
"As a taxpayer, I don’t want my taxes to pay for the killing of animals when there are rescue groups willing to save them at their own expense," said Los Angeles county taxpayer and plaintiff Rebecca Arvizu. "These shelters also do not reflect my values and those of my fellow citizens who love animals. Since they are supposed to be working for us, I want them caring for animals humanely. That’s the law and those are the values a majority of us hold dear."
The No Kill Advocacy Center is a national non-profit organization trying to end the systematic killing of animals in U.S. shelters. It has drafted model legislation, works with municipal and private shelters nationwide, and helps animal lovers throughout the United States reform their local shelters.
The lawsuit is based on violations of California laws, especially the 1998 Animal Shelter Law. The law sought to reform California shelters which were unnecessarily killing in the face of cost-effective lifesaving alternatives. It follows a successful lawsuit in Kern County where a Superior Court judge held the Kern County animal control shelter in violation of law and ordered that shelter to cease its legal violations.
For a copy of the press release, click here. (Please note: Images are disturbing.)
For a full media kit, which includes a copy of the 4-page Demand Letter the plaintiffs sent to Ms. Mayeda before filing their lawsuit, the 3-page letter protesting the Department’s retaliation, the 29-page Complaint, video footage, and high resolution images of animal suffering in Los Angeles County’s shelter system, click here. (Please note: Images are disturbing.)
Please help us pay for the legal costs. To donate by check or make a secure online donation, click here or go to www.nokilladvocacycenter.org
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Send questions or comments about this web site to Ann Berlin, annxtberlin@gmail.com
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Lawsuits Against L.A. County Dept. of Animal Care and Control
Lawsuits have been filed against the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control, its Director Marcia Mayeda, Los Angeles County and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
August 28, 2006
A Dog's Life Rescue filed a lawsuit in the Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday, August 28, 2006 against Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control and its Director, Marcia Mayeda. Full text pdf.
http://friendsofculvercityanimals.org/images/A%20Dog%27s%20Life%20Rescue%20v%20Los%20Angeles%20County%20-%20Complaint.pdf
December 20, 2007
The national No Kill Advocacy Center and two animal rescuers have jointly filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles County, its Department of Animal Care and Control, and the Department’s Director, Marcia Mayeda. The lawsuit alleges unlawful and abusive treatment of animals at all six Los Angeles County animal shelters.
Also see the Pet Connection Blog for more information. Full text pdf.
http://friendsofculvercityanimals.org/images/No%20Kill%20Advocacy%20Center%20v%20Los%20Angeles%20County%20-%20Complaint.pdf
March 20, 2008 No Kill Advocacy Center - Update
The Superior Court in Los Angeles struck two blows against animal mistreatment in Los Angeles County's six animal shelters by giving Plaintiffs the first two victories in their lawsuit.
A lawsuit filed by the national No Kill Advocacy Center, Cathy Nguyen, a volunteer animal rescuer, and Rebecca Arvizu, a Los Angeles County taxpayer and animal rescuer, against Los Angeles County, its Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC), and the Department's Director, Marcia Mayeda, alleges unlawful and abusive treatment of animals at all six Los Angeles County animal shelters.
Among the allegations in the complaint, the County Department of Animal Care and Control routinely:
* Kills healthy and treatable animals before their state mandated holding period expires;
* Misclassifies animals as "ill" or "injured" in order to kill them before their holding period expires even though the animals are not irremediably suffering as required by state law;
* Kills lost animals without making reasonable attempts to find the animals' owners;
* Fails to provide adequate veterinary care to impounded animals, resulting in animal deaths;
* Fails to provide adequate nutrition, water, shelter and exercise to impounded animals and to treat the animals humanely and kindly;
* Refuses to release animals to rescue groups that are willing to care for the animals until adoptive homes can be found and, instead, kills the animals.
In addition, the lawsuit alleges that DACC unlawfully violated the civil rights of Plaintiff Nguyen by retaliating against her for publicizing its unlawful treatment of animals.
The County replied by filing a motion to dismiss the case arguing, in essence, that the County has complete discretion to determine:
* Whether and when the County may lawfully kill an animal;
* Whether and when the County is obligated to provide veterinary treatment to an animal in its care; and
* Whether and when the County should release to willing rescue groups animals that the County otherwise plans to kill.
In addition, the County argued that, even if it is violating the law or treating animals inhumanely, concerned citizens should not be allowed to force the County to stop.
Attorneys for Plaintiffs disagreed and opposed the County's motion to dismiss. Characterizing the County's arguments as "wrong" and even "spurious," the Court overruled the County's motion and ruled in favor of the Plaintiffs that they should be allowed to go to trial on their claims.
In addition, attorneys for Plaintiffs filed a motion asking the court to order DACC to allow Cathy Nguyen, who was barred from saving animals at the shelters as retribution for publicizing shelter atrocities, to continue saving animals on DACC's death row. The County claimed it did not retaliate but was unable to offer credible evidence to the contrary. As a result, the Court entered an order prohibiting DACC from taking further retaliatory action against Ms. Nguyen.
The one-two blow against DACC provides powerful support for Plaintiffs' arguments that DACC routinely violates the law at the expense of saving animals. The lawsuit is being handled by the Los Angeles law firm of Eisenberg Raizman Thurston and Wong, LLP.
"DACC shelters are spending public tax dollars to kill and mistreat animals, they are blaming the public for the killing, they are doing the killing in our name, and we are supposed to accept that without recourse," said Nathan J. Winograd, director of the No Kill Advocacy Center. "Unfortunately, we are not paying the ultimate price. That price is being paid by the animals who are unfortunate enough to enter the shelter system. And we can't sit back and do nothing."
January 14, 2008
D.E.L.T.A. Rescue filed a lawsuit in the Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday, January 14, 2008 against Los Angeles County. Click here for complete information. Full text pdf.
http://friendsofculvercityanimals.org/images/Delta%20Rescue%20v%20Los%20Angeles%20County%20-%20Complaint.pdf
March 21, 2008
Important information about the lawsuits against the Los Angeles County Dept. of Animal Care and Control Full text pdf.
http://friendsofculvercityanimals.org/images/LACDACC%20Handout.pdf
October 20, 2008
On October 20, 2008 Judge Halfant signed a Stipulated Order for the lawsuit of Cathy Nguyen, et al. v. County of Los Angeles, et al. The settlement mandates that the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control will:
* Not kill an animal during State mandated holding period unless the animal meets narrow exceptions permitted by law
* Provide veterinary care to ill and injured animals
* Release animals to rescue groups instead of killing them
* Not retaliate against rescue groups and volunteers who publicly expose agency malfeasance
* Restore the volunteer and rescue rights of plaintiff Cathy Ngyuen
* Provide access to shelter records to ensure compliance
Should DACC violate the order, below are the next steps of legal action:
* The violations can be brought to the judges's attention after providing appropriate notice to DACC
* If violations continue to occur, the court may take actions it deems appropriate to compel DACC's compliance with the order, including appointment of a monitor
February 17, 2009
On February 17, 2009 a press release was issued by the No Kill Advocacy Center documenting extensive ongoing of acts of animal cruelty and abuse in violation of the Stipulated Court Order dated October 20, 2008. The entire press release can be found at http://nokilladvocacycenter.org/pdf/pr2.16.09.PDF
The Los Angeles County DACC Watch Blog keeps an eye on what's happening in the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Demand that Marcia Mayeda be fired and the LA County DA investigate
SIGN THE FIRE MARCIA MAYEDA PETITION
Marcia Mayeda has continued to violate the public trust by allowing her department to break Department policy and procedure, Board of Supervisor policy and procedure, and State and Federal law. The only solution is to demand that Marcia Mayeda be fired by the Board of Supervisors. It’s only when a competent and caring Department Director replaces her will the abuse and neglect that the employees of the Department of Animal Care and Control inflict on the animals in their “care” cease. Send emails to and phone the below people and demand that they fire Marcia Mayeda as well as start an internal investigation. It’s time we put the word care back in the Department of Animal Care and Control.
Wendy Watanabe
Acting Auditor-Controller
County of Los Angeles
Email: WWatanabe@auditor.lacounty.gov
Phone: (213) 974-8301
William T. Fujioka
Chief Executive Officer
County of Los Angeles
Email: BFujioka@ceo.lacounty.gov
Phone: (213) 974-1101
Gloria Molina
Supervisor, First District
County of Los Angeles
Email: Molina@lacbos.org
Phone: (213) 974-4111
Yvonne B. Burke
Supervisor, Second District
County of Los Angeles
Email: YBurke@lacbos.org
Phone: (213) 974-2222
Zev Yaroslavsky
Supervisor, Third District
County of Los Angeles
Email: ZYarosla@lacbos.org
Phone: (213) 974-3333
Don Knabe
Supervisor, Fourth District
County of Los Angeles
Email: DKnabe@lacbos.org
Phone: (213) 974-4444
Michael D. Antonovich
Supervisor, Fifth District
County of Los Angeles
Email: MAntonovich@lacbos.org
Phone: (213) 974-5555
We also need to demand that the Los Angeles County District Attorney perform a full investigation into the alleged abuse and neglect of animals by the Department of Animal Care and Control.
Steve Cooley
District Attorney
County of Los Angeles
Email: SCooley@da.lacounty.gov
Debbie Knaan
Deputy District Attorney
County of Los Angeles
Email: DKnaan@da.lacounty.gov
District Attorney's Office
County of Los Angeles
210 West Temple Street, Suite 18000
Los Angeles, CA 90012-3210
Phone: (213) 974-3512
SIGN THE FIRE MARCIA MAYEDA PETITION
Comments
2 comments:
Anonymous said...
How is this going to help the animals? From what I've read and observed, Marcia has the animal care and welfare experience to make a positive difference for the animals. The alternative would be another bureaucrat who does not care about the animals. I've lived all over the US and abroad, and logged 1000s of volunteer hours at county and city shelters wherever I've lived. My perspective is if you are not volunteering to help the animals and promoting responsible pet ownership, then you are just part of the problem. County and city animal control agencies have responsibilities and red-tape to overcome that you cannot fathom. Unless you have direct experience managing a shelter or animal control department of this scale, then your comments are just part of the problem and not part of a solution. How about supporting your local animal control departments and volunteer to make a positive difference instead of making things more difficult for these agencies. (Whittier, CA)
June 4, 2008 10:20 AM
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Anonymous said...
Let's take this function out of the hands of the "bureaucrats" and place it entirely in the hands of private organizations and volunteers. I used to volunteer at the County facilities, but was completely frustrated with the ineptitude and complete unwillingness to help out when we needed the help with simple things. These jobs are given to people who can't find jobs anywhere else because they're not qualified or wanted in private industry.
July 15, 2008 11:57 AM
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