Newsom signs bill to help abused shelter animals avoid long stays

Addressing the Toll of Evidence Animals in Municipal Kennels

For years, animals seized during cruelty investigations have faced indefinite detention inside municipal facilities. Because these animals are legally classified as evidence rather than city property, they frequently endure months or even nearly a year of confinement without access to volunteers, regular walks, or yard time. A Los Angeles Times investigation previously exposed how dogs seized in abuse cases were kept isolated in kennels while court cases dragged on, generating severe behavioral distress.

One notable case involved a dog named Bruce, whose neck was slashed by his owner. Bruce spent seven months trembling in a shelter kennel, barred from standard enrichment programs while investigators built their case. Los Angeles Animal Services staff maintained these restrictions because evidence animals remained outside city ownership until legal proceedings concluded.

Atty. Special Assistant Dist. Atty. Daniel Felizzatto explained that the statute establishes a 14-day threshold for warrantless seizures. Once that period lapses without proper intervention, shelters can take affirmative steps toward fostering and adoption.

Financial and Welfare Impacts on County Systems

Keeping animals confined during lengthy criminal dockets creates steep fiscal and operational burdens. According to data provided by the district attorney’s office, evidence animals in L.A. County shelters routinely stay anywhere from three months to nearly a year.

Judie Mancuso, founder and president of Social Compassion in Legislation, pointed out that some evidence dogs have endured 300 days or more inside shelters. “That is not only inhumane, it places an enormous burden on taxpayers,” Mancuso stated.

Financial estimates from the district attorney’s office indicate it costs approximately $35,550 a year to shelter a single dog or cat in Los Angeles County. Felizzatto noted in a letter to Newsom that housing these animals unnecessarily is “bad public policy and bad fiscal policy” that directly contributes to municipal shelter overcrowding.

Prolonged kennel confinement routinely triggers “kennel crazy” symptoms, including excessive pacing, anxiety, and destructive behavior. These psychological tolls diminish an animal’s adoptability and ultimately increase the risk of shelter euthanasia. Assemblymember Haney emphasized that the new law removes bureaucratic delays. “Animal cruelty is unacceptable, and when animals are held for unnecessary periods, this puts a roadblock to their recovery,” Haney said in a statement. “AB 2344 will streamline that transfer process, providing a tool for courts and shelters to help animals receive earlier transfers into appropriate care.”