A new initiative in collaboration with LAPD and Los Angeles Animal Services looks to investigate and halt cases of animal cruelty on Skid Row, Mayor Karen Bass announced Thursday.
The joint effort aims to increase animal welfare in the downtown area through specialized investigators and added resources, officials said.
The pilot program will begin in Skid Row, an area that has a higher call volume in requests for animal welfare checks, according to Bass. The initiative then has the potential to “expand citywide.”
“I launched this new initiative to keep pets with their owners whenever possible while holding those who commit crimes of animal cruelty and neglect accountable,” said Mayor Bass. “This collaborative approach will use more than 50 specially trained LAPD officers, working with Animal Services staff to support animal welfare by bringing dedicated personnel, strategic investigation practices, a uniform approach to accountability and immediate relief whenever possible.”
LAPD officers already assigned to the Skid Row area will be trained to recognize animal cruelty cases and to collect evidence.
More components of the initiative include:
Dedicated Personnel: Specifically selected LAPD Operations-Central Bureau Officers and investigators will receive intensive animal cruelty-focused training and be assigned to work directly with a dedicated Animal Control Officer. Investigations will be supported by Central GIT, a LAPD specialized unit with extensive experience in coordinating comparable initiatives.
Strategic Investigation: A variety of investigative methods, such as electronic and physical surveillance and the execution of search warrants, will be utilized to ensure the efficient and thorough collection of evidence.
Uniform Enforcement: LAPD and Animal Services will establish a consistent, unified approach to investigating potential animal cruelty and neglect across Skid Row, the pilot area.
Accountability: LAPD and Animal Services personnel will escalate incidents to the City Attorney and District Attorney for prosecution.
Immediate Relief: Alongside enforcement efforts, trained officers will partner with local organizations to identify and act on opportunities to provide immediate relief, expanding current efforts by LAPD and Animal Services to proactively support pet owners in need by offering essentials like food, leashes, bowls, and beds.
Los Angeles residents are urged to report crimes against animals to Crimestoppers at LAcrimestoppers.org or by using their tipline at 800-222-TIPS.