Free the Forgotten Lab – Stop Animal Cruelty in Glendale, CA

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Within Glendale, California, known as the “Jewel City,” sits a beautiful, black English Labrador Retriever. He is confined to an outdoor cage, where he is forced to relieve himself, eat, and sleep – often for days on end. The Lab is deprived of love, socialization, and the freedom to regularly exercise.

Unfortunately, the Pasadena Humane Society (PHS), with whom the City of Glendale contracts to provide animal control services, claims that they cannot do anything to help this dog. The reason – Glendale is an incorporated city with its own government but no specific law on the minimum size for outdoor animal shelter/enclosure.

The City of Los Angeles and the State of California have enacted tough laws on this issue*. PHS says that the state laws are vague and difficult to enforce. They claim that the Lab appears physically healthy during their welfare check visits. PHS has determined that the owner is well within the law, even if he keeps this dog confined to an approximate 6 ft. x 4 ft. outdoor cage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (which regularly occurs).

Therefore, we need your help. Please sign this petition if you want to see the City of Glendale say “NO” to animal cruelty and set minimum standards in line with the City of Los Angeles’ strong laws on the following:

*Shelter Size: If owners of companion animals (e.g., dogs) intend to keep their pets confined outdoors, which is not our preference, the outdoor pen, run, cage, or other enclosure must meet stringent requirements on size (at least 5 times the length and 3 times the width of the animal), safety, weatherproofing, and access to clean and secured water and food.

*Significant & Specific Penalties for Non-compliance: Animal Control initially would handle a violation of this proposed law with a warning to the owner, a monetary fine, and specific guidance for correction. If the violation remains uncorrected within a specified time period, it may be considered a misdemeanor with stiffer financial penalties. It is our hope that imprisonment and automatically seizing the animal for rehoming could also be a consequence for non-compliance. If a subsequent violation occurs, the owner could be prohibited from owning a companion animal again within city limits and subject to a felony.

Dogs are social animals. When they’re constantly tied up or confined, they become lonely, bored, and anxious, which can lead to aggression (e.g., up to 5.4 times more likely to bite small children, according to the Center for Disease Control). The animal’s pent-up energy can also manifest as barking.

We plan to draft clear, specific language for the City Council’s consideration in July 2018. To lend support to our efforts and communicate to our leaders that this dangerous and inhumane situation will not be tolerated, please sign this petition and spread the word to protect all of our community’s beloved pets. Thank you for your support.

*City of L.A. - LAMC 53.70 / State of CA - SB 1578 & Penal Code 597t