ANIMAL WATCH-At 1:00 p.m. on May 7, her last day as General Manager of Los Angeles Animal Services, Brenda Barnette issued the announcement that she launched the Safety Net Foster Program for LA City residents “facing a crisis and needing short-term housing for their pet.”
On the surface, this may sound like a humane idea, but the timing raises immediate suspicion. Why would a retiring General Manager issue a media release of a new program during the last few hours of her tenure? And, why is there no mention of agreement to this by incoming Interim General Manager Dana Brown?
In fact, where is the concurring approval of the Mayor and the City Council of a program which results in the City taking responsibility for pets still owned by the homeless, incarcerated, hospitalized and victims of domestic violence but placed in foster homes by LA Animal Services?