CAMP urges LA to fully fund spay and neuter voucher program amid euthanasia crisis

The Los Angeles City Budget Hearings on April 25, 2025, highlighted a pressing issue in the community: the rising rates of pet euthanasia and the urgent need for enhanced spay and neuter services. The Community Animal Medicine Project (CAMP), the city's largest provider of these services, reported a staggering 72% increase in dog and cat euthanasia from 2023 to 2024, signaling a crisis in pet overpopulation.

During the meeting, advocates emphasized that while it is mandated by law for dogs and cats over four months old to be sterilized, many families struggle to afford the necessary surgeries. The city previously addressed this issue through a spay and neuter voucher program aimed at low-income families. However, the voucher rate has remained unchanged since 2015, even as the costs of surgeries have continued to rise.

The financial implications of this crisis are significant. It costs the city approximately $40 per day to care for each animal in its shelters. For instance, the South LA shelter alone incurs about $12,000 daily, totaling over $4 million annually across all six city shelters. Advocates argue that fully funding the spay and neuter voucher program would not only improve animal welfare but also serve as a sound financial investment for the city and its taxpayers.

The discussions at the budget hearings underscored the need for immediate action to address the animal welfare crisis, with a clear call for increased funding to support the spay and neuter initiatives. As the city grapples with these challenges, the outcomes of these budget decisions will have lasting impacts on both the community and its furry residents.