Watch CBS News

Surge In Abandoned Pets Fuels Crackdown On LA 'Puppy Mills'

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — As the number of abandoned dogs and cats in the Southland hits a record high, animal activists and lawmakers are launching an effort to eliminate the source of all those unwanted pets.

KNX 1070's John Brooks reports 56,000 dogs and cats passed through local animal shelters during the last year alone, while one-fourth of all those dogs and half the cats were put to death.

Podcast

"Cruel treatment of pets solely for profit has no place in our city," said Judy Mancuso, president of Social Compassion and Legislation at the East Valley Animal Shelter, just one of the many facilities overflowing with abandoned dogs and cats.

City Councilman Paul Koretz says puppy mills and kitten mills are a source that can — and should — be cut off.

"We want to be part of the solution, so we want to make it more difficult to sell 'puppy mill' animals, and easier to adopt our wonderful animals out of the shelters," said Koretz.

Koretz plans to introduce a motion that would ultimately strengthen the laws against such mass breeding, while at the same time relocate shelter animals to pet stores where they can be adopted.

Puppy and kitten mills are only the latest chapter in the pet overpopulation story.

The city of Los Angeles requires spay and neutering for those pets house in animal shelters, but Jan Selder, director of field operations for L.A. Animal Services said more people are looking to make a quick buck with illegal kennels.

"I think a lot of what we see is the economy is in bad shape," said Selder. "It doesn't usually work out profitable, and what it ends up is more puppies are in the shelters."

For more info on the wide variety of pure and mixed breed animals available for adoption, visit the L.A. Animal Services website.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.