#United States #Los Angeles #Best Friends #ASPCA #LA Animal Services

Transformational Partnership: $14 Million for LA's Animal Services

In a pioneering move towards improving animal welfare, the ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and Best Friends Animal Society have joined forces to unveil a remarkable $14 million multi-year initiative aimed at enhancing services provided by Los Angeles Animal Services (LAAS). This initiative not only marks the beginning of a new chapter in animal care but also signifies the largest collective investment made by these prominent organizations into a municipal shelter system.

The announcement, made on April 20, 2026, is set to reshape the landscape of animal sheltering in Los Angeles, a city renowned for its diverse population and myriad of pets. The joint initiative will focus on three primary objectives that aim to create transformative changes within LAAS and beyond:

1. Preventing Unnecessary Shelter Intake: The initiative will prioritize outreach and community engagement efforts to keep pets with their families and reduce the need for shelter intake.
2. Improving In-Shelter Care: Enhancements in operational efficiency will ensure that animals receive timely, coordinated care. This will involve better resources and improved training for shelter staff.
3. Increasing Positive Outcomes for Animals: Aimed at bolstering adoptions, fostering opportunities, and reunifying lost pets with their owners, the initiative seeks to create pathways that lead to successful outcomes for animals in LAAS's care.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed her support for this historic investment, noting, “Animal sheltering has undergone a significant evolution, and this historic investment will enable LA Animal Services staff to emphasize positive outcomes even more than before.” By supporting both pets and the families that care for them, the partnership envisions a future where every animal receives the care, compassion, and safety they deserve.

The collaborative effort commits to the LAAS for an initial three-year period, during which both organizations will assist in the operational needs and improvements. The partnership stipulates that LAAS will maintain vital positions within the shelter for an additional three years following the grant period to ensure lasting impact.

A substantial component of this initiative will include $7 million in grant funding directed towards supporting key staffing roles. This involves expanding adoption and foster teams, as well as designating specialists for community cat programs. Moreover, the ASPCA and Best Friends will place experienced staff members at LAAS locations to provide hands-on support in areas such as training, program development, and animal health.

The initiative will also introduce enhanced intake strategies and reinforce efforts to return lost pets to their owners, all while expanding foster care capacity. Training sessions will educate LAAS staff on various essential topics, including shelter medicine, data management, and community outreach efforts.

Serving approximately 50,000 animals annually and responding to over 20,000 emergency animal-related calls, LAAS is one of the largest municipal shelter systems in the nation. In recent years, the department has made strides in reducing overcrowding and improving placement rates; over 90% of dogs have found new homes since 2017, thanks in part to reduced adoption fees and community partnerships.

The ASPCA has positively impacted Los Angeles's animal welfare landscape in recent years, having invested over $16 million since 2014 to assist underserved communities. Their efforts include spaying and neutering over 167,000 pets and providing primary care to more than 56,000 animals.

Conversely, Best Friends Animal Society, since its inception in 1984, has been a steadfast champion for shelter pets, investing over $80 million to bolster life-saving efforts citywide. Their initiatives include founding the No-Kill Los Angeles Coalition and directly facilitating the transfer of thousands of animals to better care facilities.

The collaboration between the ASPCA and Best Friends signals a monumental moment in LA’s animal welfare history. By uniting their strengths and resources, these organizations aim to create enduring improvements that benefit not just the animals in Los Angeles but also set a precedent for communities across the nation. As emphasized by Matt Bershadker, ASPCA President, the transformative potential of this partnership extends beyond one city—it is a powerful model for animal welfare reform across the country.

Through their unified efforts, the ASPCA and Best Friends are determined to enhance animal care and support the community, setting a course for a more humane and compassionate future for both pets and their owners across Los Angeles.