CITY'S ANIMAL 'SERVICES' ARE ANYTHING BUT.

Byline: Scott Sorrentino Local View

RECENTLY, Los Angeles Department of Animal Services General Manager Jerry Greenwalt and a group of angry activists seeking his recall have been in the news. In these stories, Greenwalt and the LAAS have cast themselves as victims, while portraying the whole animal rescue/humane community as radicals, nutcases and terrorists.

The overwhelming majority of animal rescuers are not radicals. We do not advocate violence and vandalism, and most of us are too busy saving animals to get involved in politics. Greenwalt and department management have deceived the public, mismanaged department funds and antagonized people and organizations who are working to help.

You don't have to be a ``radical animal activist'' to be outraged by that.

Despite what you have read or heard, the animals are populating faster than LAAS' inadequate programs can deal with, resulting in more strays on the streets and more killing at city shelters. The stated reason is always lack of funds - not surprising in a department top-heavy with ineffective administrators. But even the available funds are not effectively used.

Take, for example, the ill-conceived spay/neuter voucher program, which offers negligible surgery discounts and only to low-income residents. There aren't enough vouchers issued to have any real effect, and the public does not even know they exist. Frequently, they are not available when requested.

Vouchers provide little relief for the altering of large-breed dogs - $30 off a surgery that will cost $100-$200 - and they cannot be used for feral cats. Better targeted resources would lead to real reductions in pet overpopulation, and ultimately less future money spent.

Greenwalt proclaims that euthanasias are down 21 percent. This is not true, and he bases this claim on flawed statistics. In 2000, the law was changed such that impounded animals in California must be held for three to five days, which significantly reduced so-called Owner Requested Euthanasias, or animals euthanised on the spot. Greenwalt has continually taken credit for this drop. Considering that OREs accounted for 11,842 animals euthanized in 1999-2000, and 6,041 in 2000-2001, comparing current euthanasia statistics to either of these years is deceptive and misleading.

A genuine comparison, that didn't include the changes in the OREs, would show almost no reduction in shelter killing. Furthermore, according to the department's own statistics, LAAS cannot account for 3,000 to 6,000 animals per year. What happens to these animals? One year, Greenwalt blamed the discrepancy on some lizards - with no further explanation. On another occasion, he cited computer problems.

Given these responses, how can we believe any of the statistics released by the department?

Greenwalt praises his department's cooperation with rescue/humane groups. But in truth, recent policy changes have made it more difficult and more expensive for nonprofits to work with the city, despite the fact that rescue groups account for a significant (and growing) percentage of shelter adoptions. If adoptions are up, it is largely due to the rescue/humane community's independent efforts.

Greenwalt calls LAAS ``one of the largest rescue organizations in the nation.'' LAAS is an animal control agency, and it is inappropriate and misleading to use the term ``rescue.'' City shelters kill close to 60 percent of the unclaimed animals impounded - an appalling 34,006 animals in 2002-2003.

That's 93 animals killed every day - hardly a statistic worthy of accolades.

Greenwalt claims every sick and injured animal is immediately treated by a veterinarian. Talk to anyone who rescues from the shelters and they will give you countless examples to the contrary. The slightest sign of injury or illness and the animals are put in an isolation room, where they spend their few remaining days of life suffering, frequently without treatment or pain medication.

When this many people are angry, there's usually a reason.

You don't need to be a nutcase activist to be outraged by dishonesty and lack of accountability. Rational people are angered by Greenwalt's mismanagement of the department's $14 million annual budget and are fed up with his spinning of the statistics to artificially produce results.

An army of volunteers is ready and willing to work together with a dedicated, progressive, passionate and effective general manager. I wish we had one.