Los Angeles is in the middle of a shelter crisis unlike anything we’ve seen in years. Nearly 2,000 dogs are crammed into LA City and County shelters with nowhere to go. Every kennel is full, staff are overwhelmed, and adoptable dogs are being killed simply because there’s no space left.

This isn’t just heartbreaking, it’s preventable, and together we can change it.

**Nearly 2,000 dogs are crammed into LA City and County shelters with nowhere to go.**

LA Shelters Are Buckling Under Intake

The numbers tell the story:

LA City shelters are currently housing more than 900 dogs, with South LA alone reporting a 32% increase in intake.
LA County shelters admitted 4,971 dogs in the first quarter of 2023, a 27% rise from the year before.

Together, that’s nearly 2,000 dogs waiting for homes right now, with hundreds more arriving every week. Intake is outpacing adoptions, and shelters can’t keep up. Volunteers are walking past kennels where two and three dogs share a space built for one, knowing that without more fosters and adopters, many won’t make it out.

Source: LA Animal Services, County of LA

Euthanasia Is Spiking Across the System

When shelters run out of room, dogs pay with their lives. From January to September 2024, LA City shelters euthanized 1,244 dogs, a 72% increase compared to the previous year.

That’s hundreds of adoptable pets killed every single week.

Meanwhile, LA County is still developing a five-year plan to reduce euthanasia. But dogs don’t have five years. They don’t even have five weeks if kennels keep filling at this pace.

Sources: LA Times, Best Friends Society, Sacramento Bee

Breeding Licenses Return: Dogs Pay the Price

Instead of taking bold steps to reduce intake, LA’s City Council has gone backwards. After briefly halting breeder permits, they reinstated licenses in 2025, handing out new breeding approvals while shelters are already over capacity.

This is more than poor timing — it’s a decision that’s costing dogs their lives. We cannot adopt our way out of this crisis if puppies keep being bred into an already overwhelmed system.

What’s needed now:

Reinstate and enforce the breeding license moratorium.
Crack down on illegal backyard breeding.
Expand and fund spay/neuter programs across the city and county.

Source: LA Animal Services

Prevention, Not Pretending

Adoption and fostering are critical — every time someone opens their home, a life is saved. But without prevention, the flood never stops.

The real path forward includes:

Spay/Neuter Programs: Affordable, accessible services citywide.
Breeder Regulation: Enforce permits, stop illegal breeding.
Funding Rescues: Support rescues with the staff, space, and medical care to pull dogs before they’re killed.

How You Can Help Today

While leaders stall, you can make an immediate difference:

Foster or Adopt: When you open your home, you don’t just free up space — you give the next dog at the shelter gates a real chance at life.
Donate: Support rescues like Real Good Rescue working daily to pull dogs from the system.
Share This Blog: Awareness is power, spread the word!

And most importantly: Hold city and county leaders accountable.

Demand Shelter Justice Now

This crisis won’t end until our elected officials treat it like one. Here’s how to act:

Step 1: Find Your Representative

Step 2: Call and Email Today

Demand they:

Reinstate and enforce the breeding license moratorium.
Expand foster and rescue programs immediately.
Increase funding for lifesaving shelter programs.

Example City Contacts

District 1 – Eunisses Hernandez: 213-473-7001 | hernandez@lacity.org
District 8 – Marqueece Harris-Dawson: 213-473-7008 | harris-dawson@lacity.org

Example County Contacts

District 1 – Hilda L. Solis: 213-974-4111 | firstdistrict@bos.lacounty.gov
District 2 – Holly J. Mitchell: 213-974-2222 | hollymitchell@bos.lacounty.gov
District 3 – Lindsey P. Horvath: 213-974-3333 | horvath@bos.lacounty.gov
District 4 – Janice Hahn: 213-974-4444 | hahn@bos.lacounty.gov
District 5 – Kathryn Barger: 213-974-5555 | barger@bos.lacounty.gov

Step 3: Use Your Voice

When you call, say:

“I’m a constituent demanding action to stop healthy dogs from being killed for space in LA City and County shelters. Reinstate and enforce the breeding license moratorium, fully fund shelter programs, and prioritize humane outcomes.”

The Time to Act Is Now

Every day of delay means more dogs lose their lives. We cannot wait for leadership to “work on it.” The community must act, and elected officials must respond.

Nearly 2,000 dogs are depending on us right now.

Shelter justice can’t wait.

About Real Good Rescue

At Real Good Rescue, we’re not just about finding homes for pups; we’re on a mission to change lives.

Our goal is simple: to make sure every dog feels the warmth of a safe home and the love of a caring family. Whether it’s pulling dogs from overcrowded shelters, rescuing them off the streets, or matching them with their perfect forever family, we work every day to give pups a real good chance at a better life.

But we don’t do it alone. Our incredible network of volunteers, fosters, and donors makes this possible. Together, we’re building a world where every dog has a shot at happiness—no matter their past.

Support our Rescue Work