{"id":38787,"date":"2026-08-11T15:29:44","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T10:29:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=38787"},"modified":"2026-08-11T15:29:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T10:29:44","slug":"euthanasia-rates-of-cats-and-kittens-are-on-the-rise-at-l-a-city-animal-shelters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=38787","title":{"rendered":"Euthanasia rates of cats and kittens are on the rise at L.A. city animal shelters"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-element=\"story-body\" data-subscriber-content=\"\">\n<p>Los Angeles animal shelters recorded a sharp increase in euthanizations of cats and kittens through the first six months of the year, which officials attribute in part to a rise in animals brought to the shelters. <\/p>\n<p>Nearly 900 kittens were euthanized from January through June,  up from about 600 the first six months of last year, for a 43% increase. <\/p>\n<p>Euthanasia of cats \u2014 those more than 8 weeks old \u2014 saw a 32% increase compared with the same time last year with 1,142 killed through June. Euthanasia of dogs, by comparison, increased by 2%.<\/p>\n<p>Gabrielle Amster, general manager of L.A. Animal Services, said much of the increase was fueled by an influx of kittens into the system.<\/p>\n<p>Kitten intake rose 30% in April compared with the same month last year, according to the department\u2019s Woof Stats, and euthanasia increased by 177%  in April compared with the same month a year earlier.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen that many vulnerable animals arrive before our foster network has fully mobilized, the gap between what a shelter can provide and what neonatal kittens need to survive becomes devastating,\u201d Amster said. <\/p>\n<p>Through June, 5,215 kittens passed through Animal Services\u2019 doors, compared with 4,823 in the same period last year. <\/p>\n<p>Animal activists like Christi Metropole of Stray Cat Alliance say city funding for spay and neuter vouchers hasn\u2019t kept up with demand from people who want their pets sterilized, as well as from those who trap  feral cats to keep stray populations low.<\/p>\n<p>The value of free spay and neuter vouchers for pets increased last year from $70 to $120 for cats but the budget allocated for them did not, so fewer vouchers were issued overall. <\/p>\n<p>The new city budget, which took effect  July 1, includes a $1-million increase in the spay and neuter budget, bringing the total to $6.5 million for animal sterilizations.<\/p>\n<p>Metropole and Lisa Lange, an L.A.-based  senior  vice  president for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, say  the best way to control the cat population and keep more kittens from entering the shelter is to prevent cats from having kittens in the first place. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is an answer to this crisis, and it\u2019s to prevent births,\u201d Lange said. <\/p>\n<div class=\"enhancement\" data-click=\"enhancement\" data-align-center=\"\">\n<figure class=\"figure m-0\"> <picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/8f6555a\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5728x3819+0+0\/resize\/320x213!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fea%2Fd6%2Fc1f670dc4db989e49cb195ebaa8d%2F1561079-me-animal-shelter-kittens-rb-0537.jpg 320w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/64a987a\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5728x3819+0+0\/resize\/568x379!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fea%2Fd6%2Fc1f670dc4db989e49cb195ebaa8d%2F1561079-me-animal-shelter-kittens-rb-0537.jpg 568w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/57c945a\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5728x3819+0+0\/resize\/768x512!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fea%2Fd6%2Fc1f670dc4db989e49cb195ebaa8d%2F1561079-me-animal-shelter-kittens-rb-0537.jpg 768w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/7533056\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5728x3819+0+0\/resize\/1024x683!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fea%2Fd6%2Fc1f670dc4db989e49cb195ebaa8d%2F1561079-me-animal-shelter-kittens-rb-0537.jpg 1024w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/c8fafc7\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5728x3819+0+0\/resize\/1200x800!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fea%2Fd6%2Fc1f670dc4db989e49cb195ebaa8d%2F1561079-me-animal-shelter-kittens-rb-0537.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"100vw\"\/><img class=\"image\" alt=\"Torrance resident Katherine Han smiles while watching Baby walk around a cat viewing area.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/4652133\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5728x3819+0+0\/resize\/320x213!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fea%2Fd6%2Fc1f670dc4db989e49cb195ebaa8d%2F1561079-me-animal-shelter-kittens-rb-0537.jpg 320w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/da026c2\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5728x3819+0+0\/resize\/568x379!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fea%2Fd6%2Fc1f670dc4db989e49cb195ebaa8d%2F1561079-me-animal-shelter-kittens-rb-0537.jpg 568w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/9b4f967\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5728x3819+0+0\/resize\/768x512!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fea%2Fd6%2Fc1f670dc4db989e49cb195ebaa8d%2F1561079-me-animal-shelter-kittens-rb-0537.jpg 768w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/7890ca1\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5728x3819+0+0\/resize\/1024x683!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fea%2Fd6%2Fc1f670dc4db989e49cb195ebaa8d%2F1561079-me-animal-shelter-kittens-rb-0537.jpg 1024w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/019f301\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5728x3819+0+0\/resize\/1200x800!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fea%2Fd6%2Fc1f670dc4db989e49cb195ebaa8d%2F1561079-me-animal-shelter-kittens-rb-0537.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/019f301\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5728x3819+0+0\/resize\/1200x800!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fea%2Fd6%2Fc1f670dc4db989e49cb195ebaa8d%2F1561079-me-animal-shelter-kittens-rb-0537.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>   <\/picture>\n<div class=\"figure-content\">\n<p>Torrance resident Katherine Han smiles while watching Baby walk around a cat viewing area at Chesterfield Square \/ South LA Animal Shelter.<\/p>\n<p>(Ronaldo Bola\u00f1os \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<p>Female cats begin breeding when the weather starts to get warmer, according to <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foundanimals.org\/everything-need-know-kitten-season\/\" target=\"_blank\">Michelson Found Animals<\/a>, an animal welfare nonprofit funded by surgeon and philanthropist Dr. Gary K. Michelson. California has kitten season twice per year on average because of the moderate temperatures, often overwhelming shelter systems and fosters between March and October. <\/p>\n<p>Euthanasia data showed that 2025 was a year of improvement for the shelter system\u2019s kill rate, but so far this year numbers have returned to 2024 levels.<\/p>\n<div class=\"enhancement\" data-click=\"enhancement\" data-align-left=\"\">  <ps-interactive-project class=\"interactive-project block\" data-use-responsive-height=\"true\" data-module-id=\"0000019f-0651-d820-addf-865f3cae0005\">\n<div data-wc-src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/KTs2m\/embed.js?v=6\" style=\"min-height:374px;\">     <noscript><picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/c181040\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/640x748+0+0\/resize\/320x374!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2e%2Fd8%2Fefaceb914ff29d777070ed829495%2F90af81beb2a74a55a000df117ab39fcd 320w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/1456887\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/640x748+0+0\/resize\/568x664!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2e%2Fd8%2Fefaceb914ff29d777070ed829495%2F90af81beb2a74a55a000df117ab39fcd 568w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/8511045\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/640x748+0+0\/resize\/768x898!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2e%2Fd8%2Fefaceb914ff29d777070ed829495%2F90af81beb2a74a55a000df117ab39fcd 768w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/7729374\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/640x748+0+0\/resize\/1024x1197!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2e%2Fd8%2Fefaceb914ff29d777070ed829495%2F90af81beb2a74a55a000df117ab39fcd 1024w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/971ce57\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/640x748+0+0\/resize\/1200x1403!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2e%2Fd8%2Fefaceb914ff29d777070ed829495%2F90af81beb2a74a55a000df117ab39fcd 1200w\" sizes=\"100vw\"\/><img class=\"image\" alt=\"In the first five months of the year, 16% of new kittens in L.A. shelters were euthanized. The Harbor and East Valley facilities reported the largest increases.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/2e6c8e8\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/640x748+0+0\/resize\/320x374!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2e%2Fd8%2Fefaceb914ff29d777070ed829495%2F90af81beb2a74a55a000df117ab39fcd 320w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/38c6aa7\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/640x748+0+0\/resize\/568x664!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2e%2Fd8%2Fefaceb914ff29d777070ed829495%2F90af81beb2a74a55a000df117ab39fcd 568w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/50045ff\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/640x748+0+0\/resize\/768x898!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2e%2Fd8%2Fefaceb914ff29d777070ed829495%2F90af81beb2a74a55a000df117ab39fcd 768w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/cbcd295\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/640x748+0+0\/resize\/1024x1197!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2e%2Fd8%2Fefaceb914ff29d777070ed829495%2F90af81beb2a74a55a000df117ab39fcd 1024w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/d99f113\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/640x748+0+0\/resize\/1200x1403!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2e%2Fd8%2Fefaceb914ff29d777070ed829495%2F90af81beb2a74a55a000df117ab39fcd 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1403\" src=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/d99f113\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/640x748+0+0\/resize\/1200x1403!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2e%2Fd8%2Fefaceb914ff29d777070ed829495%2F90af81beb2a74a55a000df117ab39fcd\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>   <\/picture> <\/noscript> <\/div>\n<\/ps-interactive-project>    <\/div>\n<p>Amanda Newkirk, director of communications at the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program, linked this year\u2019s increase to several factors, including vet care that is more expensive and more difficult to find \u2014 both for pet owners and animal shelters. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cFewer available surgeries mean more unsterilized cats, more kittens born outdoors and more animals entering shelters during a season when space, foster homes, staffing and veterinary capacity are already stretched,\u201d Newkirk said. <\/p>\n<p>Newkirk noted that many landlords won\u2019t allow their tenants to keep pets, reducing the number of potential homes for shelter animals. Assemblyman Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) introduced <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/haney.asmdc.org\/press-releases\/20240220-new-bill-stops-landlords-denying-housing-tenants-pets\" target=\"_blank\">legislation in 2024<\/a> to make it harder for landlords to keep pets out of their units, but the measure died in committee. <\/p>\n<div class=\"enhancement\" data-click=\"enhancement\" data-align-center=\"\">\n<figure class=\"figure m-0\"> <picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/858d64b\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5867x3912+0+0\/resize\/320x213!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1b%2F15%2Fc20abced45eba6716c6c2f69d7fe%2F1561079-me-animal-shelter-kittens-rb-0143.jpg 320w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/59ab37f\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5867x3912+0+0\/resize\/568x379!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1b%2F15%2Fc20abced45eba6716c6c2f69d7fe%2F1561079-me-animal-shelter-kittens-rb-0143.jpg 568w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/0c1aa08\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5867x3912+0+0\/resize\/768x512!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1b%2F15%2Fc20abced45eba6716c6c2f69d7fe%2F1561079-me-animal-shelter-kittens-rb-0143.jpg 768w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/bf20f7a\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5867x3912+0+0\/resize\/1024x683!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1b%2F15%2Fc20abced45eba6716c6c2f69d7fe%2F1561079-me-animal-shelter-kittens-rb-0143.jpg 1024w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/b9f7f1e\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5867x3912+0+0\/resize\/1200x800!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1b%2F15%2Fc20abced45eba6716c6c2f69d7fe%2F1561079-me-animal-shelter-kittens-rb-0143.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"100vw\"\/><img class=\"image\" alt=\"Kittens at the Chesterfield Square \/ South LA Animal Shelter.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/b8506d0\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5867x3912+0+0\/resize\/320x213!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1b%2F15%2Fc20abced45eba6716c6c2f69d7fe%2F1561079-me-animal-shelter-kittens-rb-0143.jpg 320w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/2d7ee19\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5867x3912+0+0\/resize\/568x379!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1b%2F15%2Fc20abced45eba6716c6c2f69d7fe%2F1561079-me-animal-shelter-kittens-rb-0143.jpg 568w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/6379b38\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5867x3912+0+0\/resize\/768x512!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1b%2F15%2Fc20abced45eba6716c6c2f69d7fe%2F1561079-me-animal-shelter-kittens-rb-0143.jpg 768w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/94996b3\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5867x3912+0+0\/resize\/1024x683!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1b%2F15%2Fc20abced45eba6716c6c2f69d7fe%2F1561079-me-animal-shelter-kittens-rb-0143.jpg 1024w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/789f2e9\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5867x3912+0+0\/resize\/1200x800!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1b%2F15%2Fc20abced45eba6716c6c2f69d7fe%2F1561079-me-animal-shelter-kittens-rb-0143.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/789f2e9\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5867x3912+0+0\/resize\/1200x800!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1b%2F15%2Fc20abced45eba6716c6c2f69d7fe%2F1561079-me-animal-shelter-kittens-rb-0143.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>   <\/picture>\n<div class=\"figure-content\">\n<p>Kittens at the Chesterfield Square \/ South LA Animal Shelter.<\/p>\n<p>(Ronaldo Bola\u00f1os \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<p>Jen Naitaki, senior advisor for the Michelson Center for Public Policy, another nonprofit founded by Michelson focused on policy change in California and Los Angeles, said the city\u2019s free and low-cost spay and neuter vouchers run out quickly every month. Most kittens and cats brought to the shelter are strays, or so-called community cats without clear owners. <\/p>\n<p>The city\u2019s vouchers for the Community Cat Program have stagnated compared with vouchers for individuals with pets, Naitaki said, leading to explosive kitten seasons like this year.<\/p>\n<div class=\"enhancement\" data-click=\"enhancement\" data-align-left=\"\">  <ps-interactive-project class=\"interactive-project block\" data-use-responsive-height=\"true\" data-module-id=\"0000019f-aa49-df23-abbf-fedf17100005\">\n<div data-wc-src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/SaS0H\/embed.js?v=3\" style=\"min-height:486px;\">     <noscript><picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/d86776d\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/640x972+0+0\/resize\/320x486!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb7%2F4d%2F07c30c7c4175918d0396630b4715%2F613e62f832014d679ec301f2db4761b7 320w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/5633f9c\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/640x972+0+0\/resize\/568x863!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb7%2F4d%2F07c30c7c4175918d0396630b4715%2F613e62f832014d679ec301f2db4761b7 568w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/e23762e\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/640x972+0+0\/resize\/768x1167!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb7%2F4d%2F07c30c7c4175918d0396630b4715%2F613e62f832014d679ec301f2db4761b7 768w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/b1472fc\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/640x972+0+0\/resize\/1024x1556!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb7%2F4d%2F07c30c7c4175918d0396630b4715%2F613e62f832014d679ec301f2db4761b7 1024w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/63f6a58\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/640x972+0+0\/resize\/1200x1823!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb7%2F4d%2F07c30c7c4175918d0396630b4715%2F613e62f832014d679ec301f2db4761b7 1200w\" sizes=\"100vw\"\/><img class=\"image\" alt=\"Stacked bar chart that shows the number of pet spay\/neuter vouchers redeemed versus not redeemed from 2020 to 2025. Total vouchers issued increased from about 21,000 in 2020 to a peak of about 96,000 in 2024 before falling to about 79,000 in 2025. Although fewer vouchers were issued in 2025, the share redeemed increased from 60% in 2024 to 67% in 2025.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/e701a21\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/640x972+0+0\/resize\/320x486!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb7%2F4d%2F07c30c7c4175918d0396630b4715%2F613e62f832014d679ec301f2db4761b7 320w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/9ce7223\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/640x972+0+0\/resize\/568x863!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb7%2F4d%2F07c30c7c4175918d0396630b4715%2F613e62f832014d679ec301f2db4761b7 568w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/afdce63\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/640x972+0+0\/resize\/768x1167!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb7%2F4d%2F07c30c7c4175918d0396630b4715%2F613e62f832014d679ec301f2db4761b7 768w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/a14f8a4\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/640x972+0+0\/resize\/1024x1556!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb7%2F4d%2F07c30c7c4175918d0396630b4715%2F613e62f832014d679ec301f2db4761b7 1024w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/d0702b1\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/640x972+0+0\/resize\/1200x1823!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb7%2F4d%2F07c30c7c4175918d0396630b4715%2F613e62f832014d679ec301f2db4761b7 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1823\" src=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/d0702b1\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/640x972+0+0\/resize\/1200x1823!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb7%2F4d%2F07c30c7c4175918d0396630b4715%2F613e62f832014d679ec301f2db4761b7\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>   <\/picture> <\/noscript> <\/div>\n<\/ps-interactive-project>    <\/div>\n<p>The shelter system will see a boost in funding for 23 positions via a <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2026-04-20\/city-of-la-animal-services-14m-grant\">$14-million grant<\/a> from ASPCA and Best Friends Animal Society. Some activists remain positive that more staffers at shelters will improve conditions, but others argue the money should go straight to the animals through food, enrichment and supplies instead of wages. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Los Angeles animal shelters recorded a sharp increase in euthanizations of cats and kittens through the first six months of the year, which officials attribute in part to a rise in animals brought to the shelters. Nearly 900 kittens were euthanized from January through June, up from about 600 the first six months of last&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":38788,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/426e970\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5203x2732+0+369\/resize\/1200x630!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F99%2Fb0%2F68610744441b9f46d813fd3a1154%2F1561079-me-animal-shelter-kittens-rb-0021.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38787","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38787","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=38787"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38787\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/38788"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=38787"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=38787"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=38787"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}