Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 2344, a new law aimed at reducing prolonged stays for abused and neglected animals in crowded municipal shelters by allowing them to be placed for adoption or in foster homes sooner during criminal proceedings against their owners.
The legislation, championed by Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), reclassifies animals seized in cruelty cases as "abandoned." This designation enables shelters to pursue adoption or foster placements while the legal cases against the owners are ongoing, preventing these animals from languishing in kennels for extended periods.
Historically, animals held as "evidence" in criminal cases faced months of confinement as court proceedings unfolded. A 2022 investigation highlighted instances where dogs seized due to abuse or neglect were kept in their kennels, denied interaction with volunteers, and exhibited signs of distress, such as trembling and fear, as documented in the case of a dog named Bruce who spent seven months at a shelter following a physical assault by his owner.
Sponsored by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman and the advocacy group Social Compassion in Legislation, the bill addresses a loophole by stating that animals taken into protective custody without a warrant can be deemed abandoned after 14 days. This provision allows shelters to initiate adoption and fostering procedures, particularly in cases where an officer witnesses abuse and immediately removes the animal.
Statistics from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office indicate that "evidence animals" can remain in shelters for three to twelve months. Daniel Felizzatto, Special Assistant District Attorney, argued that unnecessarily prolonged shelter stays are both poor public policy and fiscally irresponsible, citing an annual cost of approximately $35,550 per animal in Los Angeles County. He further noted that such confinement contributes to shelter overcrowding, can lead to behavioral issues like anxiety and destructive tendencies, and may ultimately result in euthanasia.
Assemblymember Haney stated that the new law provides a crucial tool for courts and shelters to expedite the transfer of these animals into appropriate care, thereby aiding their recovery and preventing unnecessary suffering. Newsom's office did not provide a comment on the legislation.
