Volunteers say dogs and cats have been found shot, poisoned, or left in trash bags.
Reports from animal rescue volunteers in South Los Angeles are prompting renewed concerns about cruelty toward stray animals, after multiple incidents involving injured or dead dogs and cats were discovered in alleyways and neighborhoods where community caregivers regularly feed and monitor feral colonies, as reported by KTLA News.
Volunteers say they have repeatedly encountered animals that appear to have been beaten, shot, or abandoned in trash bags. Advocates who assist with feeding stray cats and rescuing injured animals report incidents across several areas of South Los Angeles, raising alarms among local rescue organizations and residents.
Animal advocates say the cases have become more severe in recent years. Friends of Normie, a local nonprofit rescue group, reported that volunteers have discovered trash bags containing the bodies of dogs and have also encountered cats suffering from gunshot wounds and suspected poisoning.
Ladan Davia, founder and CEO of Friends of Normie, said volunteers have documented numerous cases while conducting routine feeding and rescue efforts. Davia told KTLA that in recent weeks, volunteers have located several bags containing deceased dogs in alleys where they typically care for stray animals.
One cat rescued over the weekend, now named Albert, was found limping after being shot with a BB gun, according to rescuers. Veterinarians determined the pellet shattered a bone in the cat’s leg before lodging near the spine. Rescuers say surgical removal could risk paralysis, so Albert has been placed in a foster home.
Rescue volunteers say they have repeatedly contacted animal control authorities to report the incidents, but claim they have received only limited or delayed responses.