Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has proposed new budget cuts April 21 that could severely impact animal shelters, according to Los Angeles Animal Services (LAAS).

The budget cuts, which would include a 10% decrease, would remove $6.4 million from the hands of the LAAS, leading to the lay-off of 62 staffers, termination of 49 vacant positions and closure of half of LAAS’s shelters.

The closure of the three shelters could impact the lives of thousands of animals and drastically increase the rates of euthanasia of adoptable animals due to already large amounts of overcrowding in shelters.

Shelters tend to become their most crowded during the length of summer seasons, mainly due to factors such as more lost pets, celebratory fireworks and it being kitten season. The rapidly approaching start of the summer season in June has only added to the anxiety bubbling around the situation.

The levels of crowding in shelters have already begun to reach worrying levels, with kennels being placed inside hallways or spare rooms to fit the abundance of animals. 

Due to this, even no-kill and low-euthanasia shelters have been forced to put down adoptable animals arriving each day.

There have been various protests in response to the proposed cuts, including outrage amongst animal rescue organizations and other advocates, all of whom have been lobbying the City Council to restore the funds.

There were two scheduled protests, one at the Van Nuys City Hall April 25 and one at Los Angeles City April 28. Footage shows protesters gathered outside the buildings carrying signs and reciting chants begging for the Mayor to not go through with the cuts.

In response to the outcries, Karen Bass has said in a statement that she is attempting to use unappropriated funds to restore some of the cuts to LAAS as the City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee has suggested $5 million be moved back into the Animal Services Department.