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Showing posts with label euthanasia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label euthanasia. Show all posts

Saturday, July 12, 2025

Audit of Los Angeles Animal Services by Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates


December 4, 2024 LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia ordered an independent audit of Los Angeles Animal Services.  Mejia ordered the audit because of increasing intake and euthanasia rates at Los Angeles city animal shelters noted by outside animal rescue organization Best Friends. Mejia stated "Our audit aims to give L.A. Animal Services, the public, and policymakers a detailed understanding of LAAS' struggle to provide adequate care, and the audit will identify ways the system can be improved, both at current funding levels and with additional funding."

A part of that audit included a Request for Proposals (RFP) titled “Evaluation of LA City Animal Shelters and Care” by an independent consultant. The proposal may have been about to be awarded to past LA Animal Services Chief veterinarian Dr Dena Mangiamele. Mangiamele was allegedly notified by the City Controller that the contract was cancelled due to conflict of interest. I tried to confirm with the City Controller and Dena Mangiamele but neither returned my email. As far as I know the City Controller is still doing an audit. Maybe they just chose a different consultant or no consultant to save funds.

In light of all of this I decided to do my own quick audit. I was asked to be a commissioner for LA Animal Services around 2006. I was on the Prop F Committee around 2006. I used to attend all the meetings and publicly post my minutes before they started audio recordings. I've been following the Department closely since 2000 and have written a few mini audits and articles if you search this blog. I link two mini audits I did below from 2015 and another in 2011. I probably did a few much earlier.

I took a look at the Department animal statistics since 2017. I'm sure I have stats from 1990's if not earlier in my records. Intake and euthanasia rates had been going down while spay neuter was going up since the 1970's. Below is a summary of the statistics. 

Intake was going down, live save was going up then Covid hit March 2020 with lockdown. Some probably relinquished animals early in the pandemic as they couldn't afford to keep them without working. Later 2020, 2021 fewer animals came in and more were adopted during Covid as people had more time for pets. Number of spay neuters went down because of Covid lockdown so population increased. After Covid lockdown people went back to work and dumped adopted animals and fosters. Intake went up as did euth rate. Intake is still below 2017 to 2019 levels. Euth is back up above 2017 levels. During this time the Dept budget increased until 2025 when it decreased because of LA City budget issues. A good thing is live save rate is about stable to a little less which is amazing considering increase in intake. Another good thing is spay neuter is now back up to pre Covid levels. (See statistics below with links)

The biggest complaint today is overcrowding in the shelter. The shelter is actually limiting animal intake by refusing some animals. The shelter is overcrowded because the only other immediate alternative is euthanasia. It's damned if you do, damned if you don't. If the Dept euthanizes, people will complain even louder about the euth rate. If they don't, they'll complain about over crowding. Pick your poison. 

Another issue to consider is the addition of the new larger shelters starting in 2006. I was on the Prop F Committee to build the new shelters. I asked how the Department will pay for more employees to take care of a larger shelter which can house more animals. I was told Prop F funds can only be used to build the shelters and not staff or support them. This has caused some field employees to spend more time in the shelter. The animal per employee ratio is also higher than previously.

A recent issue is the economy. Tariffs, rising interest rates, rising rents, uncertain economy have caused people to tighten their budgets. If we go into a recession, it'll get even worse as this generally leads to more animals being dumped and fewer adopted. Another issue is immigrants being deported or self deporting. It costs $350 for a vet visit and airline certificate besides $200 to fly pets back home. Many can't afford it and are leaving pets behind. 

What is the solution to this problem? The Department has been increasing spay neuter post Covid above pre Covid rates. It will take time to get the intake back down. Things will be more difficult now that the budget has been cut 4% compared to 2024. The shelter is working with many different rescue groups with spay neuter, adoptions, foster, grants... Our organization Animal Advocates has worked with the shelter since 2000 so we know all their programs. 

Sadly we are seeing more pleas from the shelters begging us to take animals within the last two months. End of July and August historically is generally the time they have to euthanize animals for space. It's post puppy, kitten season and people dump animals to go on vacation. The shelter has no other options. If anyone would like to help, adopt an animal. Tell people to adopt instead of buying one. Support a rescue group that takes animals from the shelters. Help people so they don't have to dump their animal. This is not the shelter's problem. They are just the dumping ground. It's everyone's problem. Attacking the Department only makes the problem worse. Please, be part of the solution instead and try to help.

STATISTICS

YEAR,  cat/dog intake, save rate, euth, spayneuter partners shelter animals only*

Dec 2024, 39763  84%  5588  18405
Dec 2023, 38606  86%  4731  15772
Dec 2022, 35653 88% 3580  (missing 2022 stats and not all included in 2023 stats)
Dec 2021, 28683 89% 2741 11184 
Dec 2020, 30977 90% 2019 11114 March 2020 Covid lockdown
Dec 2019, 46825 88% 4886 (missing) 
Dec 2018, 44392 -89% 3960 17225 
Dec 2017, 44794  86% 5382 (missing)

I found some older intake rates from a past article I wrote in 2015. https://animaladvocatesmarycummins.blogspot.com/2015/06/some-animal-activists-are-protesting.html

2014/15  44,734 -9% from previous year at this rate
2013/14  50,239 -8% from previous year
2012/13  54,825

Older euthanasia numbers. We're doing so much better today. 

2014/2015  11,579  at this rate -9% from previous year, 23% euth rate
2013/2014  12,683  -25% from previous year, 25% euth rate
2012/2013  17,069  -21% from previous year, 31% euth rate
2011/2012  21,620  37% euth rate (euth/intake)


Chart. I should have started the graph at zero intake so the dip wouldn't look so drastic.




*There were more spays from other programs but this is the one program that existed during all the time periods so I could use it for comparison

BUDGET

2025 30.31 million
2024 31.70
2023 26.94
2022 25.73
2021 23.21
2020 27.16
2019 24.91
2018 23.51
2017 23.98
2016 23.06


Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit Disclaimer: https://animaladvocatesmarycummins.blogspot.com/p/mary-cummins-disclaimer-freedom-of.html
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Thursday, August 24, 2023

P22 Necropsy Report Released in State Information Act Request by Mary Cummins, Animal Advocates

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P22 mountain lion necropsy report final and full.This is the result of a state information act I made immediately after P22 was euthanized. There are a lot more documents I'm downloading now so check back. There are also a lot of trail cam and security cam videos. Below is one of P22 washing his face.


Here's another video of P22 with a raccoon. Video is not gross though he probably killed and ate it later.



Here is the blog article from when they first posted a brief summary.


From the report released 08/24/2023 

Necropsy Case Report Report End Date

14/Mar/2023
Copyright, Species360, 2023. All rights reserved.
4004903 | Puma / Puma concolor | TCW22-34902 Individual
Sex: Male Birth Date: 01/Jan/2010 +/- 1 year Age at Submission Date: 12Y,11M,16D +/- 1
Case Info
Case Number
0069554
Necropsy Submission
Death Date Date Submitted Date Discovered Manner of Death Carcass Weight Death Location
17/Dec/2022 17/Dec/2022 - Euthanasia - NC99100 Harter
Enclosure Group
Recent History/Observations
Mountain Lion from the LA area, P-22. Age estimated around 12 years old. Free-ranging but was losing body condition, changing behavior. Immobilized in the field by CDFW and brought to LA Zoo for diagnostics. Then brought to Safari Park for further evaluation. CT and various other diagnostic testing
revealed diaphragmatic hernia with herniated liver parenchyma and omentum. Renal insufficiency also suspected, along with possible myocardial disease.
Diffuse ectoparasitism with Demodex gatoi also identified. Euthanasia was pursued at the decision of CDFW, and was performed with IV pentobarbital.
After euthanasia, testicles were removed for gamete recovery.
Death Numbers
Death Number Effective Date
0069554 17/Dec/2022
Gross Necropsy
Necropsy Date Carcass Condition Necropsy Location
17/Dec/2022 Fresh SANDIEGOZ NECROPSY LAB
Report Date
17/Dec/2022

Sex: Male Birth Date: 01/Jan/2010 +/- 1 year Age at Submission Date: 12Y,11M,16D +/- 1
Printed: 14/Mar/2023 17:05
Species360 ZIMS version 2.25.5
San Diego Zoo Safari Park Page: 2 of 4
Received is a 44 kg, adult male mountain lion (puma) in fresh postmortem and good to fair body condition with mild generalized muscle atrophy and small to
moderate fat stores. There is patchy alopecia and poor hair coat along the ventral neck, face, ears, distal tail (distal 25 cm), and distal limbs and feet. Two
black, hairless, soft, pedunculated skin nodules are present on the dorsal neck which are 2 x 1.3 x 1.2 cm and 1 x 0.9 x 0.4 cm. A 3.6 x 1.7 cm area of
alopecia caudal to the right eye also has 2 scabs. The right eye has patchy hemorrhage in the dorsal sclera and conjunctiva, and areas of redness overlying
the lateral aspect of the iris within the eye. A small scab is present on the skin over the dorsal aspect of the left eye orbit. Along the right ventral mandible is
a 2 x 0.6 cm crusted ulceration with edema and tan discoloration of the underlying subcutis. Areas of alopecia (~5 x 2 cm) are present over both hips, and
there is a 1 x 0.8 cm abrasion along the lateral metatarsal region of the right hindfoot. Multiple claws are frayed. There is a 0.5 cm diameter skin incision
along the left medial aspect of the stifle (antemortem skin biopsy). Within the right frontal sinus is a small amount of brown clotted blood. The zygomatic
process of the right frontal bone surrounding the right ocular orbit has multiple chip fractures with mild associated hemorrhage.
There is mild hemorrhage in the subcutis and muscle along the lateral aspect of the right shoulder and proximal humerus. Some hemorrhage is also present
around the left jugular venipuncture site in the neck. Fractures of the transverse process of the 7th cervical vertebra and acromion process of the right
scapula noted on CT scan are not readily identified grossly. A thin (<1 mm diameter), approximately 2.5 cm long silver metallic wire foreign body is
embedded along the internal aspect of the caudoventral abdominal midline. The reported metallic pellet in the region of the left hip on CT scan is not found.
Negative pressure is absent in the thorax on opening the abdominal cavity. The lungs are diffusely collapsed and pink. The heart is 218.9 g (0.498% of body
weight), and the mitral valve leaflets are mildly thickened and smoothly nodular. There is a 3 x 2.5 cm hole in the right ventral aspect of the diaphragm
through which a portion of omentum (approximately half) is herniated into the right thoracic cavity. The margin of this diaphragmatic tear is smooth and
rounded with no evidence of hemorrhage. An approximately 1 cm diameter dark red nodule also bulges into this tear which is adjacent to a second
approximately 5 cm diameter tear centrally in the diaphragm. This tear also has smooth edges, and through it bulges into the thoracic cavity a roughly 9 cm
diameter x 4 cm thick section of liver which is discolored and mottled shades of tan, orange and red. There are tight adhesions between the left crus of the
diaphragm and the left lateral lobe of the liver. Pleura and connective tissue is tightly adhered to and encapsulates the intrathoracic herniated portion of liver,
which appears to be a portion of the left medial lobe or papillary process of the caudate lobe. The cystic duct of the gallbladder is sigmoid in shape. The liver
is 1.4 kg (3.2% of body weight), subjectively enlarged with rounded lobe margins, and is diffusely dark tan with a moderately enhanced reticular pattern.
A perihepatic lymph node is mildly enlarged at 7 x 1.5 x 0.7 cm, and the mesenteric lymph nodes are similarly prominent. The spleen is diffusely enlarged,
dark red, and congested (presumed euthanasia artifact). The medullae of both kidneys have mild pale tan streaking to the renal crests. Numerous long
cestodes are present throughout the small intestine. In the dorsal peripheral aspect of the left thyroid gland is a soft, brown, 0.9 x 0.8 x 0.7 cystic nodule
filled with brown cloudy fluid.
crown-rump: 110 cm
subcutaneous fat amount: small
pericardial fat amount: small
abdominal fat amount: moderate
digestive system content:
stomach: full of soft digesta containing abundant fur and some fragments of bone and pieces of hay
small intestine: thick pale yellow fluid and small boluses of fur and hay with numerous long (>20 cm) cestodes
cecum: pasty brown feces containing abundant fur
large intestine: formed feces containing abundant fur
lymph nodes examined: mandibular, axillary, tracheobronchial, mesenteric, perihepatic/peripancreatic
joints examined: atlanto-occipital, right shoulder, left hip, left and right stifles
Preliminary dx:
1. Euthanasia
2. Right eye: mild intra- and peri-ocular hemorrhage
3. Bone, zygomatic process of right frontal bone: multiple chip fractures
4. Right frontal sinus: mild hemorrhage
5. Subcutis and muscle, right shoulder: mild hemorrhage
6. Liver, diaphragm and thoracic cavity: chronic diaphragmatic tears (2) with intrathoracic liver and omentum herniation and entrapment
7. Liver: enhanced reticular pattern
8. Skin, multiple sites (head, neck, distal limbs, distal tail): patchy alopecia and poor hair coat with multiple abrasions, crusts and ulcerations (left and right
orbits, right ventral mandible, right foot)
9. Skin, dorsal neck: pigmented skin tags (2)
10. Kidneys: mild medullary streaking
11. Small intestine: cestodiasis, moderate
12. Left thyroid gland: focal cyst
13. Abdominal body wall: foreign body (metallic wire)
14. Good to fair body condition

Histopathology
Histopathology Report
Histologic dx:
1. Bone, right orbit (zygomatic process of frontal bone): subacute to chronic comminuted fracture with hemorrhage, necrosis, and fibrosis
2. Skin, whole body: 1) mild to moderate epidermal hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis with mild multifocal lymphocytic mural folliculitis and perifollicular
dermatitis, follicular atrophy and loss, and myriad intrafollicular mites (demodicosis, Demodex sp.) and dermatophyte hyphae and spores (dermatophytosis);
2) minimal multifocal granulomatous dermatitis with intralesional fungal elements (pseudomycetoma)
3. Skin and subcutis, right mandible: focally extensive, chronic, ulceration and draining tract with granulation tissue, pyogranulomatous dermatitis and
panniculitis, furunculosis, and intralesional hair shafts
4. Skin, dorsal neck: polyp with multiple cystic follicles
5. Stomach, pylorus: moderate, subacute, regional, neutrophilic and lymphohistiocytic gastritis with glandular microabscesses and intraglandular spiral
bacteria (consistent with Helicobacter sp.)
6. Liver, herniated region: chronic passive congestion with centrilobular atrophy, perivenous and portal fibrosis, focally extensive lipidosis, and capsular
mesothelial hypertrophy
7. Liver: acute diffuse centrilobular congestion, lipogranulomas, and mild Ito cell hyperplasia
8. Pulmonary vein, lung: subacute luminal thrombus
9. Heart, left atrioventricular valve: mild myxomatous degeneration (endocardiosis)
10. Arteries and arterioles, heart and kidney: mild multifocal arteriosclerosis and arteriolosclerosis with medial hypertrophy, subintimal fibrosis and
amphophilic hyaline material deposition
11. Kidney: mild multifocal proliferative glomerulonephritis with glomerulosclerosis, periglomerular fibrosis, hypertrophy of Bowman's capsule epithelium,
and minimal multifocal lymphoplasmacytic interstitial nephritis
12. Lung: mild multifocal alveolar histiocytosis
13. Peripheral blood, whole body: circulating neutrophilia
14. Bone marrow: mild myeloid hyperplasia
15. Tonsil and lymph node (left axillary): minimal multifocal granulomatous tonsillitis and lymphadenitis with intralesional fungal elements
16. Lymph node, mesenteric: minimal to mild multifocal pyogranulomatous lymphadenitis
17. Small intestine: luminal cestodes, numerous
ADDENDUM DATED 2023/01/19:
Ancillary test and results:
CAHFS Accession #D2217781 Toxicology results: FINAL
Dx:
Exposure to multiple anticoagulant rodenticides
Exposure to bromethalin
Anticoagulants Screen - Quantitated, Liver
Analyte Result (ppb) Rep. Limit (ppb)
Brodifacoum, 96, 50
Bromadiolone, 530, 50
Chlorophacinone, 87, 50
Coumachlor, Not Detected, 20
Difethialone, 220, 50
Diphacinone, 960, 50
Warfarin, Not Detected, 20
Difenacoum, Not Detected, 20
Bromethalin, Adipose Tissue
Analyte Result (ppb) Rep. Limit (ppb)
Desmethylbromethalin, Trace, 1.0

Final Summary
Final Summary
The many lesions identified in this wild mountain lion on postmortem examination are consistent with the extensive clinical work up, history of recent and
previous trauma, and reported deteriorating condition. Supporting the diagnosis of recent trauma (hit by car 6 days prior to euthanasia) was the histologic
appearance of the right orbital fracture and gross evidence of hemorrhage in the adjacent frontal sinus and right eye. The suspected intraocular hemorrhage
was not present in the examined histologic section of this eye, however, which appeared within normal limits. An inflamed tract/wound along the right
mandible could also have been related to this traumatic event, though it could also have been more chronic. The diaphragmatic tears, through which
omentum and a portion of liver were herniated into the thoracic cavity, appeared to be of much longer duration with smooth margins, mature fibrous
adhesions, and chronic changes in the affected liver lobe. These were presumably the result of previous trauma, the exact timing of which cannot be
determined from the gross or histologic appearance. Although there was evidence of a degree of chronic vascular compromise to the herniated lobe, the
remaining majority of the liver was unaffected and relatively normal histologically.
A presumed major contributor to the deteriorating condition was skin disease. Heavy colonization of hair follicles with dermatophytes and Demodex sp.
mites was seen in all examined sections of skin (face, neck, hip, foot). These combined infections account for the poor condition of the hair coat and
probably some of the systemic inflammatory response evident in the bloodwork and histologically as myeloid hyperplasia and circulating neutrophilia. The
intrafollicular location of the Demodex mites is more consistent with D. cati or the third feline Demodex sp. as opposed to D. gatoi, which colonizes the
stratum corneum. Generalized D. cati infections suggest underlying immunosuppression or other disease. A Microsporum canis species was identified from
antemortem hair samples and is consistent with the fungal/dermatophyte lesions seen, which included both extensive hair colonization and rare microscopic
pseudomycetomas in skin, tonsil, and axillary lymph node. The latter finding is interesting evidence of lymphatic spread of the M. canis infection beyond the
skin, although the lesions were few and small.
Consistent with the advancing age of this animal, there were a variety of relatively mild, non-specific, age-related changes, including valvular endocardiosis,
arteriosclerosis, and renal disease. The renal changes seen primarily involved glomeruli and could be related to chronic inflammation (such as from the skin
disease) or cardiovascular disease, such as hypertension. Glomerular injury accounts for the reported proteinuria. Findings of undetermined cause and
significance included regional gastritis and a small pulmonary venous thrombus. The gastric inflammation involved the pylorus (or possibly the cardia) and
was neutrophilic and damaging to the glands, some of which contained Helicobacter-type spiral bacteria. No other parasites were seen in the stomach. A
specific cause was therefore not identified, but recent stress and Helicobacter could have been involved. In the small intestine, moderate numbers of
cestodes were probably incidental.
Toxicologic analysis of a liver sample for rodenticides (performed by CAHFS) found 5 anticoagulant rodenticides at varying concentrations as well as a trace
amount of bromethalin. Despite exposure to multiple compounds, two at relatively high levels (diphacinone and bromadiolone), there was no evidence of
abnormal hemorrhage that would suggest a coagulopathy due to toxicosis. Bromethalin does not typically result in histologic lesions, but no clinical
(neurologic) signs of bromethalin toxicosis were reported antemortem.


Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit
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Monday, February 6, 2017

Evanger's recalls Hunk of Beef because of Pentobarbital in a batch of food - Mary Cummins, Animal Advocates

Evanger's hunk of beef, cat, dog, food cva fda voluntary recall pentobarbital euthanasia drug

Evanger’s Voluntarily Recalls Hunk of Beef Because Of Pentobarbital Exposure in one Batch of Food

Animal Advocates' note: Pentobarbital is used to euthanize cats, dogs, pet animals. Cows are killed by captive bolt gun. No one would ever use pentobarbital to kill a cow as it has a long half life. It can cause major health problems for anyone or any animal who eats the cow. I don't believe someone killed a cow with pentobarbital. I personally believe that the supplier either fed his cows cats, dogs from a rendering plant or the supplier added some rendered cats, dogs from a rendering plant to the ground meat they sold to Evanger's. Euthanized cats, dogs are boiled at high temperatures so separate the fat from the protein. The fat an protein are sold as fishmeal.

Evanger's buys their beef from a supplier. I don't think Evanger's would knowingly buy meat which had pentobarbital in it. It's possible that the rendered animals made their way into the cows through the feed supplier. It is illegal to feed rendered animals to animals in the US. It's illegal to use it in pet or human food. It can only be sold to a non-US company. Generally it's sold to Asian shrimp farmers. Then the US buys the shrimp. I hope the beef supplier does not buy feed from China. That could be how it got in there.

Below is the release.

"For Immediate Release February 3, 2017 Evangers Dog & Cat Food Co
 1-847-537-0102

Out of an abundance of caution, Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food of Wheeling, IL is voluntarily recalling specific lots of its Hunk of Beef product because of a potential contaminant Pentobarbital, which was detected in one lot of Hunk of Beef Au Jus. Pentobarbital can affect animals that ingest it, and possibly cause side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, excitement, loss of balance, or nausea, or in extreme cases, possibly death.

The specifically-identified lot numbers (as detailed below) of cans of 12-oz Hunk of Beef being voluntarily recalled were distributed to retail locations and sold online in the following States: Washington, California, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and were manufactured the week of June 6 – June 13, 2016.

Although pentobarbital was detected in a single lot, Evangers is voluntarily recalling Hunk of Beef products that were manufactured the same week, with lot numbers that start with 1816E03HB, 1816E04HB, 1816E06HB, 1816E07HB, and 1816E13HB, and have an expiration date of June 2020. The second half of the barcode reads 20109, which can be found on the back of the product label.

The subject recall affects 5 lots of food that were produced from its supplier’s lot of beef, which is specifically used for the Hunk of Beef product and no other products. To date, it has been reported that five dogs became ill and 1 of the five dogs passed away after consuming the product with lot number 1816E06HB13. Evanger’s is proactively issuing a recall voluntarily so as not to risk potential exposure to pentobarbital in the product.

All Evanger’s suppliers of meat products are USDA approved. This beef supplier provides us with beef chunks from cows that are slaughtered in a USDA facility. We continue to investigate how this substance entered our raw material supply.

Because we source from suppliers of meat products that are USDA approved, and no other products have had any reported problems, we are not extending the recall to other supplier lots. This is the first recall for Evanger’s in its 82 years of manufacturing. Although it has been verified that little or no product remains on store shelves, if consumers still have cans with the aforementioned lot numbers, he or she should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-847-537-0102 between 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Central Time, Monday - Friday."

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Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit
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Saturday, November 15, 2014

Nathan Winograd the misinformation machine. No Kill Advocacy, book Redemption

Nathan Winograd, No Kill Advocacy, book Redemption, All American Vegan, PETA, HSUS, ASPCA, Best Friends, SFSPCA, Tompkins SPCA
Here are some lies Nathan Winograd likes to tell about PETA. Notice, 99% of everything Nathan says is "HSUS, PETA, ASPCA are evil!!!. They enjoy killing animals. They want to kill all animals. They kill animals they get their hands on." This is of course false. He spends 99% of the time ONLY attacking other groups instead of trying to end pet euthanasia. Nathan Winograd does this so people will give him money, buy his books, pay for his seminars, watch his movie... Nathan Winograd attacks these groups for money. He's also very jealous that they are large, successful groups who are positively lobbying for animals while he can't make a living.

Below are just a few of the many lies he says about PETA. PETA's responses are also shared by HSUS, ASPCA, Best Friends and other main stream group. Nathan Winograd attacks, harasses, stalks, defames everyone in his blog here while claiming he has freedom of speech http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?page_id=166 . What's ironic is he threatens to sue anyone who merely disagrees with him. He has freedom of speech but they don't. If they are public figures, then so is Nathan. He still cannot intentionally make up lies about them yet he does.

1. PETA wants to kill all pitbulls. NOT TRUE.

Here is PETA's response.
http://www.peta.org/blog/peta-position-pit-bulls/

2. PETA kills all cats, dogs, pets. NOT TRUE.

Here is PETA's response.
http://www.peta.org/blog/euthanasia-wont-run-needs-done/

3. PETA wants all cats killed. NOT TRUE.

Here is PETA's response.
http://www.peta.org/issues/companion-animal-issues/overpopulation/feral-cats/great-outdoors-cats/

4. PETA is against saving shelter animals and want them all killed. NOT TRUE.

Here is PETA's response.
http://www.peta.org/features/deadly-consequences-no-kill-policies/

http://www.peta.org/blog/kill-excuse-hoarding-solution-birth/

5. Why Nathan Winograd attacks PETA.

Here is PETA's response.
http://www.peta.org/living/companion-animals/nathan-winograds-redemption-kill-clue/

6. Nathan Winograd says there is no pet overpopulation. Wrong.

Here is PeTA's response.
http://www.peta.org/issues/companion-animal-issues/overpopulation/

I have known Nathan Winograd since 2005. I have known him to be a nasty, pathological liar, plagiarist and someone who is willing to work with ADL and ALF to terrorize government officials. He bragged to me in email that he will get "his" activists, i.e. ADL, ALF, to force the then Mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa to hire him for a month for $20K/shelter. We had six shelters and an annex at that time. Yes,  he wanted $140,000 for a month of work.

Nathan Winograd admitted he was offered the GM position at Los Angeles for $155K/yr but he said no. He only wanted to consult. Why? If he could make any shelter nokill over night like he says, why wouldn't he want to make LA nokill and show the world what he can do? Because he has not and cannot make any shelter nokill. He likes to just criticize a shelter then when they are still euthanizing animals he attacks and blames them for their failure. If I could show, tell LA how to be nokill, I would do it for free. Who would not want to save all the animals? Nathan Winograd knows he cannot make a shelter nokill. That's why he lies about his "accomplishments" all the time.

I've written and reposted a  few blogs about Nathan Winograd in this blog. Some articles I wrote years ago and just reposted here. Go to top left and search his last name. I posted his entire history with dates so you can see that he does not tell the truth. He says he was the "Director" of SFSPCA. He was the director for nine days, quit, breached his contract and was fired. Nathan Winograd does not work well with others. That's why he works for himself and basically has been living off his wife's parents. He admitted to me again in email that he mortgaged his home in 2005 or so then was forced to sell it because he couldn't make any money consulting. All he does is write and talk. That's it.

I will end this post with a link to a 100% honest article written about a seminar he gave at the LA Bar Association. I was at this meeting along with some lawyers, city employees, rescuers I know. This did indeed happen. Nathan Winograd said all of these false and outrageous things. He says the exact same things in his book word for word, i.e. cats are more likely to get rabies from us than we are from them, should we get rid of all windows to save birds, should we protect worms from birds, wildlife groups Audubon, ABC...are just like Hitler and the Nazi's, all researchers in the entire world are liars, outdoor cats are good for the environment and wildlife... Nathan Winograd lost this lawsuit.

https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/04/14/18644737.php


Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit
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Monday, February 14, 2011

Brenda Barnette first six months by the numbers, Los Angeles Animal Services

Some have been singing Brenda Barnette's praises since she arrived. Some are saying things are much better. I thought I'd take a look at the numbers to see what's really happening at Los Angeles Animal Services.

Animals given to New Hope partners has increased. Things seem to have gotten worse in all the other categories. Most seems to be due to the increase in animals being dumped at the shelter. Most of this is due to kittens. I'm only looking at cats and dogs combined. I'm comparing Barnette's first six months (August through the end of January) to the same six months the previous year.

Adoptions are down by 986 animals (-8%), 11,799 verses 12,785.

Animals given to New Hope partners (non-profit animal rescue groups that work with the City) is up a whopping 1,162 (+40%), 4,080 verses 2,918. This is a great improvement, kudos. Unfortunately it's the only improvement based on the numbers.

Animals returned to owners is up 129 (+5%), 2,842 verses 2,743. This is due to the increase in intake. As a percentage of intake 10.54% of animals were returned to their owners in the last six months compared to 10.88% compared to last six months from previous year. The difference is actually negligible.

Animals released has increased by 166 (+35%), 633 verses 467. I've never really understood this category but I still count it as an animal released alive.

Animals that died on their own is down 23 (-6%), 368 verses 375. As a percentage of intake it's the same at 1.3% verses 1.4% year previous.

Animals that were dead on arrival (DOA) at intake increased by 62 (+8%), 827 verses 765. As a percentage of intake it's the same at 3% verses 3%.

Animals that escaped is up by 26 (+92%), 54 verses 28. The numbers involved are negligible but still something to look at.

Animals that were euthanized is up 1,189 (+13%), 10,204 verses 9,015. As a percentage of intake it's 37% verses 36% year previous. Not that much of a difference especially when you consider the increase in intake and fewer adoptions to the public.

Animals leaving the shelter alive is up 476 (+2.5%), 19,408 verses 18,941. As a percentage of intake it is actually down, 72% verses 75%. Barnette's goal is to have 85% of the animals leaving alive within the next five years. If our economy improves and we can do something about all the kittens, I see that happening.

Animals leaving the shelter dead is up 1,244 or (+12%), 11,399 verses 10,155. As a percentage of intake it's 42% verses 40% previous year. As a percentage fewer animals leaving alive, more leaving dead. (Animals leaving dead as % + animals leaving alive as % do not = 100% animals taken in during that time period. It seems more animals left the shelter dead and alive than were taken in. This could be because of the timing of baby season. This also means they are keeping higher numbers in the shelter.)

Animals that were brought into the shelters is up by 1,758 (+7%), 26,956 verses 25,198. This is the real problem. In the past five years animal intake is up 9,545 (+20%), 55,780 verses 46,235 (annual intake last 12 months). Intake had been going down for years until the recession hit. It's been going up ever since. Adoptions were increasing until 2009 when we seem to have hit a wall.

Now to look at an always troubling category, kittens. Neonate kitten intake is up 662 (+22%) over the six months year prior. Kitten intake accounted for 38% of the increase in total cat/dog intake. Neonate kitten euth is caused by people not spaying and neutering their own cats or unowned feral cats. People lie when they dump the kittens saying they are strays so they don't have to pay a fee. You can't really tell where they are coming from.

Kitten euth is up 910 (+47%) over the six months year prior. Almost all (+76%) of the increase in total cat/dog euthanasia is attributed to kitten euth, 910 kittens euth'd verses 1,189 total cats/dogs euth'd.

One problem with neonate kittens is that they legally cannot be adopted out until they are eight weeks old. If they are under eight weeks old, they must be adopted out with a mom cat and all the other siblings or through the foster bottle baby program. Because there are so many kittens eight weeks and older, people would rather not adopt an entire family (very expensive) or bottle feed a baby (time consuming). If you can't feed the neonate kitten or adopt it out, you are forced to euth it which is better than letting it starve to death.

I volunteered at the shelter for many years. We'd call five week old kittens eight weeks if they could eat wet food. We'd put solo nursing babies in with a mom cat with other babies. I'm sure the shelter is doing this already.

I believe some of the increase in adult cat/dog intake and euth is caused by our horrible economy i.e., job losses, foreclosures, people being forced to move from homes into smaller rentals that don't allow pets, people doubling up in homes and people who can't afford to spay or neuter their pets. Obviously Barnette did not cause our horrible economy. Still, it's a challenge she must face.

I think she's done a great job increasing New Hope adoptions. I don't know if she recruited more New Hope partners or just found a way to get them to take more animals. Whatever the cause, whoever deserves credit, kudos. Kudos to the actual New Hope partners as well. That's the only real improvement by the numbers. Without that improvement, things would be much worse.

Adoptions to the public are down but I'd venture to say it's because of the economy. One way to increase adoptions is to find a new source of adopters. Go after people who generally buy cats and dogs from pet stores or breeders.

The biggest problem in the shelter right now is kittens. The only way to deal with it is more spay and neuter targeted toward cats, owned and unowned. It should be cheap or free and targeted to lower income areas. Maybe a little enforcement of the mandatory spay and neuter law would help. All of these suggestions are easier said than done.

For the record I am not saying that Barnette caused the problems in the shelter today. These are just challenges she will have to conquer.

A closing note, if you see a pregnant cat or dog, get it spayed. If your friend has a pregnant cat or dog, tell them to get it spayed. Otherwise those babies will most likely end up in the shelter, dead. You can spay, neuter cats and puppies at eight weeks of age. It's easier on them and cheaper for you. They do not need to go into heat or have a litter before being spayed or neutered. Don't forget about bunnies!

Here are some fantastic charts by Sheltertrak.
http://www.sheltertrak.com/stat_laas002.php


Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit
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