Results tagged “gardena” from South Bay Pets

My colleagure Larry Atman has written this update on a police dog that died last week. Readers, animal lovers and police supporters have rallied to help the Gardena Police Department get a new dog.

Larry, who has his own South Bay crime blog, writes:

An anonymous donor, South Bay companies and a group of residents have donated thousands of dollars to the Gardena Police Department to help officers pay for a new police dog.
The donations followed last week's death of Sammy, who tracked down criminals and sniffed out drugs. Sammy died following an illness.
Gardena police Sgt. Steve Prendergast said employees at Toyota Financial Services and Toyota Motor Sales in Torrance provided about $5,000 while Sammy was still alive to help pay for medical bills.
Following a Daily Breeze article on Friday about Sammy's passing, readers made donations, including a man who responded with $10,000. He wished to remain anonymous.
"He's just a very generous person," Prendergast said. "It's just a man who has a passion for animals and believes in giving back to the community. We are very appreciative."
Officers estimate it costs $10,000 to $12,000 to buy a new dog and train an officer.
Police dogs are funded by public donations.
A new dog is expected to be working in about two months, Prendergast said. Another dog currently is in training.

Animal activists and friends will gather at the Carson animal shelter on Saturday to protest what their press release calls "the county's Department of Animal Care and Control's continued alleged neglect of the animals in their care."

According to the press release,

Among the Departments numerous alleged violations of Department Policy and Procedure, Board of Supervisor Policy and Procedure, and State and Federal law, the Department has and continues to engage in the following:

·          Causing animals unnecessary suffering, sickness, and death

·         Not providing animals with proper medical care

·         Not providing animals with adequate nutrition, shelter, exercise, and water

·         Not treating animals kindly and humanely

·         Routine failure to hold employees accountable

·         Retaliating against employees, volunteers, and members of the public for exposing patterns of neglect

"The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control subjects the animals in their care to horrid conditions," said Ryan Olshan, protest organizer.  "They are failing to provide animals with basic care as dictated under law.  These are laws that were put into place to prevent what is happening at the County's 6 shelters."