In many ways, volunteers are the backbone of Los Angeles Animal Services. The agency relies on them to walk dogs, handle adoptions, and care for small animals like rabbits and hamsters that could easily overwhelm paid staff.
They don’t make a dime. But they also lack basic protections against whistleblowing. In recent months, former volunteers have complained they were fired for speaking up about alleged neglect. Now, they’re seeking more rights.
LAAS volunteers recently formed a non-profit called the Animal Services Volunteers Assn. The organization will act similarly to a union in order to secure greater protections. They’ve also retained a lawyer.
A documentary about animal shelter volunteers is also in the works. Dana Keithly, who used to work at the Rancho Cucamonga Animal Care and Adoption Center, is making the film to shed light on alleged mistreatment and retaliation against voluntary staff in shelters.
An October report released by the city recommended changes to the way LAAS handles volunteer disputes. It recommended a mediation process for volunteer-staff conflicts and noted that the current appeals process for volunteers was “probably not fair.”
Former LAAS General Manager Brenda Barnette said the problem is that many volunteers think they know more than the employees. Former volunteers say they know mistreatment and neglect when they see it.
Caught in the middle are the innocent cats, dogs, rabbits and birds who just need a loving home.