Lets Turn the Old WLA Shelter Over to Non-Profit Hands

My in-shelter contacts tell me that the West LA old location may be open for single or multiple rescue organizations to take over operations there.

It is perfect for that purpose as that is what that location has been doing for years.

Remember, Winograd's favored model is having the Muni shelters to work hand in hand with private non-profits.

This is the model that worked in San Francisco and now in Reno, where not only do they have multiple rescue groups, they also have a large non-profit shelter. Ditto Ithaca N.Y.

I sent out an email to many regarding the above.

I received an email stating the Mayor wants to sell all excess property to balance the budget and Councilman Rosendahl wants it for low cost housing. The response also said the zoning would not permit the usage of the animal shelter as an animal shelter!

This assumes that the grandfathered zoning usage has a time limit to the duration of LAAS tenancy. It also assumes no variance is possible even though that has been its usage for many years. It also assumes that the kennel permit will not be granted by the Dept. which has the option to do so, as they set the conditions.

The location for the private groups that would operate the shelter is perfect. It is a dynamite location that is known for exactly the same purpose, the sheltering and adopting of animals.

It would be the case of publicly funded operation turned over to private group, who in turn could contract to BH or Culver, and thus have mixed public/private operation and funding.

With private funding, it would add essentially a seventh shelter (since the Mission shelter is not open to the public) with no public (LA City) expense, which is essential now given the recent, dramatic increase in City impounds.

This could decrease the burden on the City system by 10% or better, at no City expense, and would allow New Hope partners to adopt out hundreds or thousands more pets that otherwise would be killed.

There may be space available at other locations in the City, but none better than a venue already dedicated to the same usage with the infrastructure a new operation would require.