Avanzino in 23 years at the San Francisco SPCA helped to create the “no kill movement,” but in 17 years as founding president of Maddie’s Fund tended to discredit the concept PLEASANTON, California––Maddie’s Fund on September 29, 2026––nine days after Richard Avanzino’s actual death, announced that “Rich Avanzino, affectionately and widely known as the father […]
L.A. Animal Services’ pays $31.85 million to victims of shelter dog attacks
The Los Angeles Animal Services payout for allowing dog attacks since allegedly achieving “no-kill” status in March 2021 could have bought 127,000 dog spays, preventing half a million puppy births LOS ANGELES––Los Angeles Animal Services, for the fourth time in as many years, will be shelling out a seven-figure settlement for injuries resulting from non-disclosure […]
Too many pit bulls: New York City shelters refuse intake, SF/SPCA lays off staff
Pit bulls bit the Achilles heel of collapsing New York City & San Francisco no-kill schemes SAN FRANCISCO, California––Pit bulls bit the Achilles heel of the San Francisco Adoption Pact, putting the whole “no-kill nation” model on crutches, but even as both the San Francisco SPCA and San Francisco Animal Care & Control stagger cold […]
$7.5 million award for mauling by pit bull rehomed from L.A. Animal Services
Los Angeles Animal Services withheld bite history from pit bull adopter LOS ANGELES, California––The Los Angeles City Council on June 14, 2024 approved a record $7.5 million settlement of claims resulting from a pit bull attack on Argelia Alvarado, 74, of Van Nuys. “In May 2020,” Alvarado’s attorney Kenneth M. Phillips told ANIMALS 24-7, “a […]
Jury orders L.A. Animal Services to pay $6.8 million to mauled volunteer
Finding of gross negligence comes with comparable cases against “no-kill” city shelter pending LOS ANGELES, California––Finding Los Angeles Animal Services guilty of gross negligence, a Los Angeles jury on May 31, 2023 awarded $6.8 million to German shepherd mix attack victim and former shelter volunteer Kelly Kaneko, 36. The Kaneko award came less than […]
New L.A. animal control chief Brown expected to go “Back to basics”
Brown brings to the job background in animal control, personnel management, and law enforcement, knows Los Angeles, & is bilingual LOS ANGELES––Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti on June 24, 2021 nominated Dana Brown, 57, to become the next Los Angeles Animal Services general manager, succeeding Brenda Barnette, 72, who retired on May 7, 2021 after […]
Los Angeles Animal Services chief Brenda Barnette to retire in May 2021
Took L.A. to “no kill” at cost of soaring pit bull attacks LOS ANGELES, California––Brenda Barnette, the third-longest-serving general manager of Los Angeles Animal Services since World War II, has announced her retirement, effective in mid-May 2021. The City of Los Angeles has officially not yet begun what is expected to become a nationwide […]
Indiana ruling may help L.A. woman now in critical from adopted pit bull
Indiana Court of Appeals reinforces shelter duty to inform adopters of dogs’ past attacks LOS ANGELES, INDIANAPOLIS––Reports from Los Angeles indicate that a recent Indiana appellate decision could have a multi-million dollar impact on a yet-to-be filed case in which a 70-year-old woman is reportedly in critical condition from an attack by a pit […]
Pit bull advocate Steffen Baldwin could get 81 years for killing dogs & fraud
Bond of $200,000 set for “The hot dog man,” allegedly caught hot dogging a few times too often MARYSVILLE, Ohio––Bond of $200,000 was set on August 5, 2020 for high-profile pit bull advocate Steffen Baldwin by Judge Mark O’Connor of the Common Pleas Court in Union County, Ohio. Arrested on July 23, 2020 in Acton, […]
Deaths by pit bull: will new California law slow the mayhem?
Prosecuting shelters for withholding bite history might be a start DAYTON, Ohio; CONWAY, Kentucky; LOS ANGELES, California––The first two U.S. dog attack fatalities to be reported in 2020, both involving pit bulls, upstaged the possibly more indicative resignations of two strong pit bull advocates from senior positions with Los Angeles Animal Services and Orange […]