L.A. Animal Shelter Fined Over Safety Violations

Los Angeles has been fined $563,250 by Cal/OSHA for failing to address overcrowding and safety violations at its San Pedro animal shelter, which led to a serious dog attack on an employee. The agency identified six violations, including willful serious lapses in safety training and inadequate communication systems that delayed emergency responses. A kennel supervisor, Leslie Corea, suffered a severe leg injury requiring hospitalization after being mauled by a dog, which underscored the dangerous conditions under which employees were operating. The investigation revealed that the shelter was housing 1,500 dogs despite only having the capacity for about 800, exacerbating issues of overcrowding and understaffing. This situation has prompted increased euthanasia rates in the shelter, with a 72% rise in dog killings compared to the previous year. Officials stress that every employee deserves a safe workplace, highlighting the urgent need for reform in shelter operations.