SEAACA under fire over inaccessibility

Carmen Verdugo shared data from the SEAACA website and LA County Animal Care and Control, showing a 30% decrease in SEAACA employees. (Photo by Vincent Medina)

NORWALK - Norwalk community members explained their grievances towards the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority during the city council meeting on Tuesday.

Denise Woodside, the executive director of SEAACA, gave a presentation to the council explaining the organization’s goal to provide adequate care for pets and animals. She also showed SEAACA resources on their website and said the site is “updated multiple times a day” for owners to check for their pets.

“Our animal care team is caring and feeding the animals at the care center, regardless of the time of day or whether it is a major holiday,” Woodside said. “We strive to reunite pets with their families, which can happen in the field or at our animal care center.”

However, community members spoke during public comments and expressed that SEAACA and the animal care center are inaccessible to working pet owners. Residents also made claims of miscommunication within the organization, causing the euthanization of animals.

Anett Conde volunteers to network for the animals and find their owners. She said the animal care center’s hours of operation make it difficult for pet owners to reunite with their pets.

“The hours are limited, Wednesday through Saturday 1 pm to 3 pm. While most of us work during that time, and a lot of the time the owners cannot come pick up their pet,” Conde said.

Carmen Verdugo shared data from the SEAACA website and LA County Animal Care and Control, showing a 72% decrease in animal intake since 2020. Data also indicates that SEAACA is open eight hours a week for animal viewing and a three-month wait list for spay and neutering.

“There is also a 30% decrease in employees since 2020,” Verdugo said. “I adopted a dog February and he did not get neutered until Friday because the site is so understaffed.”

The executive director explained the change in hours is due to the COVID-19 pandemic and said SEAACA is working on expanding services and reopening its doors.