The Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council wants to get the word out about the Department of Animal Services’ Reserve Animal Control Officers (RACO) program. The Department needs 15 qualified volunteers to serve as RACO officers for the City of Los Angeles. This is a program that many of the neighborhood councils funded in 2010, but it never was instituted. Now, the General Manager for the Department of Animal Services has committed to starting up the first training if, and only if, there are at least 15 qualified volunteers.

Animals are dying on our City streets each week. Our stray animal population is out of control and needs protection right now. But currently, there are only two Animal Control officers covering the night shift for the entire City of Los Angeles. These two officers are responsible for carrying out all investigations and requests for an estimated population of over 30,000 stray animals and 3 million pet owners (who own 2 million dogs and cats, horses and other animals). Due to the lack of officers, there is a marked lack of responsiveness by Animal Services for the approximately 500 emergency phone calls each week resulting in a 6-week or never backlog for

“Emergency” phone calls.

We can do something about this. The General Manager of the Department of Animal Services, Brenda Barnette, has said she will implement the RACO volunteer program if 15 qualified applicants step up to the plate. We need the RACO program to make up for the drastic budget cuts to the Department of Animal Services.

  • The City is losing millions of dollars in uncollected license fees because the Department of Animal Services does not enforce collection of license fees.
  • Due to budget cuts, inadequate staff is available to help abused or neglected animals.
  • L.A. Animal Services does not have the staff to investigate normal calls in a timely manner.
  • Unlicensed breeders are making profits but no one is looking out for the animals.

Investigating animal abuse cases should be one of our City’s and the Department’s highest priorities.

Do you know anyone who would be willing to train and serve as a RACO officer? Please post or share this info with them. Share this information with any person or organization that believes in humane treatment of animals so that we can get the number of candidates needed to get the RACO program started.

For info, see RACO Los Angeles on Facebook or email Pat Kramer, Region 1 STNC Rep at

patkramerstnc@gmail.com. You may also directly dowload an application from the L.A. Department of Animal Services at http://per.lacity.org/application.pdf, then mail your completed form to: RACO Program, LA Animal Services, 221 N. Figueroa St., Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

Please help. We can make a difference!