Fire Marcia Mayeda
Marcia Mayeda, Director of Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control, has continually violated the public trust by allowing her department to break Department policy and procedure, Board of Supervisor policy and procedure, and State and Federal law without holding anybody accountable. By signing this petition, you are demanding that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors fire Marcia Mayeda. In addition, you are demanding that the Auditor-Controller's office initiate an internal investigation and he Los Angeles County District Attorney perform a full investigation into the alleged abuse and neglect of animals by the employees of the Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control.
If you are a tax paying citizen of Los Angeles County, CA, please state so in the comment section.
Marcia Mayeda, Director of Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control, has continually violated the public trust by allowing her department to break Department policy and procedure, Board of Supervisor policy and procedure, and State and Federal law without holding anybody accountable. By signing this petition, you are demanding that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors fire Marcia Mayeda. In addition, you are demanding that the Auditor-Controller's office initiate an internal investigation and he Los Angeles County District Attorney perform a full investigation into the alleged abuse and neglect of animals by the employees of the Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control.
If you are a tax paying citizen of Los Angeles County, CA, please state so in the comment section.
On 12/03/2007, the news reported about the horrific and senseless death of a dog impounded by the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control at the Carson Animal Shelter, under the management of Department Director Marcia Mayeda. That dog, Zephyr, died as a result of the Department's systemic neglect, mismanagement, and violations of its own policies and procedures, as well as both state and federal law. Nothing has changed. The report about Zephyr's death, including the lack of heat at the Carson shelter, generated as outpouring of support from the humane community. People brought hundreds of blankets and towels to the shelter for the health, safety and comfort of the animals. But, in another display of unimaginable incompetence, instead of providing those donated towels and blankets to the suffering animals, Department employees stored them outside in the rain, next to the freezer in which the bodies of dead animals (often infested with maggots) are kept. I have photographs depicting this atrocity. Furthermore, during this past weekend, volunteers photographed medications that should have been administered to the animals carelessly strewn on the shelter floor. And, not surprisingly, another dog died needlessly after being infected with a deadly disease because of the Department's simple failure to vaccinate him, as per Department policy. These and other egregious violations of Department policy and state and federal law have been repeatedly brought to the attention of Ms. Mayeda and other Department supervisors, who continue to consistently fail to hold those responsible accountable.
Photos demonstrating Department misconduct and mismanagement can be downloaded at http://strongcoders.com/LACDACC/LACDACC.zip.
Among other things, the Department has engaged and continues to engage in the following violations of Department policy and procedure and/or state law and/or federal law.
* Use and possession of illegal substances on County property (Federal Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. §§841, et seq.,; California Uniform Controlled Substances Act, Health & Safety Code §§11350, et seq.; LACDACC Substance Abuse Policy HR270)
* Routine failure to hold employees accountable for breaking department policy and procedure and state and federal law (LACBOS Employee Accountability Policy 9.020)
* Firing and suspending of employees and volunteers for bringing departmental misconduct to the attention of department heads (California Whistleblower Protection Act; LACBOS Retaliation for reporting fraud, waste or misuse of county resources prohibited Policy 5.02.060)
* Causing unnecessary suffering, sickness, and death due to the foregoing violations (Civil Code §§1834, 1846, 2080; Pen. Code §597; LACDACC Code of Conduct; LACDACC Maintenance of Animal Health Policy OPK140; LACDACC Sick and Injured Animals Policy OPF180)
* Not providing animals requiring veterinary/medical care with veterinary/medical care or stopping veterinary/medical care when veterinary/medical care is still required (Civil Code §§1834, 1846; LACDACC Maintenance of Animal Health Policy OPK140; LACDACC Sick and Injured Animals Policy OPF180)
* Routine failure to provide adequate nutrition, shelter, exercise and water and to treat animals kindly and humanely (Civil Code §§1834, 1846, 2080; Pen. Code §597; LACDACC Code of Ethics; LACDACC Maintenance of Animal Health Policy OPK140; LACDACC Kennel Responsibilities - General Duties Policy OPK130)
* Killing animals without first engaging in reasonable efforts to identify and locate the animal's owner or make the animal available for adoption to the public (Civil Code §§1834.4, 1846, 2080; Pen. Code §§597f, 597.1; LACDACC Euthanasia Policy OPK120; LACDACC Impounded Animals with Traceable Identification Policy OPG150)
* Refusal to release animals scheduled to be killed for any reason other than irremediable suffering to a non-profit rescue organization that has requested custody of the animal (Food & Ag. Code §§31108, 311752, 31752.5, 31753, 31754; LACDACC Euthanasia Policy OPK120)
* Not providing animals in clear need of emergency care with the necessary care (Civil Code §§1834, 1846; LACDACC Code of Conduct; LACDACC Maintenance of Animal Health Policy OPK140; LACDACC Sick and Injured Animals Policy OPF180)
* Failing to report violations of policy and procedure and wrongful euthanasia as per department policies and procedures (LACDACC Disciplinary Guidelines Policy HR131; LACDACC Euthanasia Policy OPK120)
* Routine failure to vaccinate animals upon impound, isolate animals that are not vaccinated, and vaccinate animals who have been impounded for more than 15 days with a second dose of vaccines. (LACDACC Maintenance of Animal Health Policy OPK140)
* Routine failure to isolate sick animals away from the general population (LACDACC Maintenance of Animal Health Policy OPK140)
* Routine failure to perform an intake examination by the shelter RVT or veterinarian upon impound (LACDACC Maintenance of Animal Health Policy OPK140)
* Routine failure to scan animals for microchips upon impound and before euthanasia (Food & Ag. Code §§31107, 31108; LACDACC Euthanasia Policy OPK120; LACDACC Maintenance of Animal Health Policy OPK140)
* Routine failure to medicate animals as prescribed and ensuring animals swallow their medication (Civil Code §§1834, 1846, and 2080; LACDACC Maintenance of Animal Health Policy OPK140; LACDACC Sick and Injured Animals Policy OPF180)
* Wrongful killing of animals (Food & Ag. Code §§31108, 31752, 31753, 31754; LACDACC Euthanasia Policy OPK120; LACDACC Holding Time and Available Dates of Impounded Animals Policy OPG140; LACDACC Impounded Animals with Traceable Identification Policy OPG150)
* Killing live animals in front of dead animals and allowing dead animals to be in view of live animals (LACDACC Euthanasia Policy OPK120)
* Routine killing of purebred animals without first contacting the appropriate breed rescues (LACDACC Euthanasia Policy OPK120)
* The inaccurate classification of animals and killing those animals on the basis of the erroneous classification before the statutorily required holding period has expired (Food & Ag. Code §§31108, 31752, 31753, 31754; LACDACC Euthanasia Policy OPK120)
* Holding animals in areas of Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control shelters that are not accessible to members of the public (Food & Ag. Code §§31108, 31752, 31753, 31754)
* Failure to band animals with their impound number upon impound (LACDACC General Duties Policy OPK130)
I have had personal experience with the LA County Animal Care. Marcia Mayeda is not a animal protector and should not be director!
I am a tax paying citizen and do not want my money going toward the salary of a heartless, cruel individual as Marcia Mayeda. She needs to be FIRED immediately as well as anyone who condones her actions.
Dogs and cats don't pay taxes or vote, but I do. As a taxpayer I strongly object to the poor management of my tax dollars which pay your salary and pay for the "care" and "shelter" that abandoned animals of Los Angeles County are supposed to receive from your department. Give me your job and I will clean up these shelters and make shelter managers and employees accountable for their job performance.
I volunteer for a number of southern CA animal rescue groups pulling animals from the LA Shelters monthly. The deplorable condition some of these dogs and cats are subjected to is a direct result of Ms. Mayeda's lack of direction, focus or attention to detail commensurate with here duties, responsibilities and inherent public trust. The Board should take immediate action replacing Ms. Mayeda with a competent and caring leader committed to the public trust.
Dawn Beattie
Absolutely disgusting! In a city that hosts such humane leaders as Brandon Fouche, Cesar Millan and Tia Maria Torres it is unconscionable that such repressive and sadistic management is tolerated. What's wrong with the board of supervisors? Are they so stupid that they believe Marcia Mayeda is doing a good job? Shame on Los Angeles - it certainly IS NOT the city of angels.
I am a tax paying citizen of LA County. I demand an investigation into the abuse & neglect of innocent animals in County shelters. The photo I can't look at on this petition is horryifying and sadly, it's what I see in shelters all across this County. Please, let's do right by these animals and get rid of the people who could care less if they live or die.
Marcia Mayeda is a chronic denier of any and all abuse, mishandling, ineptitude, ignorance and animal neglect that goes on under her direction. To my knowledge she has not admitted to a SINGLE problem. Not one. This is NOT the sign of accountability. It is the sign of a committed bureaucrat who spends not time in the trenches and has not a clue as to what is going on and has zero leadership qualities.
No one has the right to harm or abuse animals in any way. She should be prosecuted along with the others involved!!
I am signing this to protect those who have no voice!
Nobody has the right to hurt animals.
There is no need for abuse!
As a US citizen, LA resident and a taxpayer, I am demanding taking immediate LEGAL action against Marcia Mayeda, Director of Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control, and other animal shelter employees involved in mistreatment of animals to be fired, PROSECUTED and PENALIZED.
LA County Animal "Care" and Control wrongfully impounded my dog based on allegations made by neighbor(s) who have a personal vendetta against me. This is documented in records. No effort has been made to contact me regarding when I can expect to receive my puppy back. Miscarriages of justice such as these should not be allowed to happen with an organization headed by such an incompetent AND negligent director. You will be hearing from my attorneys.
Why would you hire someone with this type of controversy? It's clear taxpayers don't want her heading this office. FIRE MAYEDA! Clean up California's Animal Shelters NOW!
I was just sick - crying and sick to my stomach when I watched this news report. They all need to go, NOW. Will this petition make that happen, if not, what will? In case this isn't bad enough, let me remind you that people who abuse animals also abuse human beings in some form or another, they are sadistic mentally ill people and should not be allowed to work in our animal rescue system or any form of work where they are in charge of anything except maybe a lawnmower and a leaf blower, EVER! Their 'leader' is an arrogant b#$%* with her nice government salary like she is untouchable, get her OUT NOW! As a taxpayer, I demand it. I demand humane, caring treatment for the helpless & the voiceless who are at the mercy of others...every hour that goes by is another day of misery for these helpless creatures. ACT NOW PLEASE, PLEASE!
I am disgusted that no one is held accountable anymore for their improper conduct. Where are the true Americans today??
Stop this culture of abuse going on in the LA County Animal Shelters. I am not sure what more you need but it's caught on video. This has got to be the end of the line of the abuse of voiceless animals. Shelter is to provide & protect not dragg kick & throw around like some toy. Everybody should be held accountable for their poor judgement and FIRED IMMEDIATELY. Let me just say one last thing if I was caught on tape throwing a customer up against the wall or dragging down the lobby do you think I would still be employed. I THINK NOT !!
Unbelievable that this unfeeling woman is the director of the shelter system! She should be ashamed that the animals she is charged with protecting are being abused and yet she seems to think it is OK!! Please fire her and put someone in her place that actually cares about the welfare of the animals!!
I demand Marcia Mayada be fired. After hearing the CBS news report of the horrible treatment of animals and her lack a response or caring, I searched the internet to read about her. The reports are horrible and if you do not investigate and fire her you are the next in line of responsibility.
Michael Vick's was fined and imprisioned - all of these criminal's need to be jailed and hopefully they will receive the same treatment they inflicted on these unfortunate animals - I am willing to do anything possible to help see this women be fired and run out of our state - shame on these people please show these animals justice
May 15, 2009 Watching the report today by David Goldstein, channel 2 and 9 news I was brought to tears and totally stunned that we have people like this working in the shelters. This is inexcusable and needs to stop NOW. Starting with getting rid of the ring leader Marcia Mayeda and then firing all the rest of the employees at every single shelter. There are lots of folks out there right now who are looking for working and we need to put in place compassionate caring souls in all shelters - IT CAN BE DONE AND NEEDS TO START TODAY!!! Watching the video of the dog in New York fending off traffic yesterday to protect her mom who was hit and lying in the street, DON'T EVEN TRY TO TELL ME THAT ANIMALS DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON . . . FOLKS WE GOTTA GET IN THERE AND CLEAN HOUSE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM IN ALL OF THESE SHELTERS AND PUT IN PLACE FOLKS WHO LOVE AND TRULY CARE FOR ANIMALS, GOTTA BE HUNDREDS OF THEM OUT THERE NOW WHO HAVE LOST JOBS AND WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH ANIMALS IN A CARING ENVIRONMENT. AND I ASK YOU ALL WHY CAN'T IT BE A CARING, NUTURING ENVIRONMENT, WHY ARE THERE EVIL-DOERS IN THERE NOW?????? WE CAN DO IT, WE CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE FOR THOSE INNOCENT SOULS WHO NEED OUR COMPASSION AND LOVE DURING THE MOST DESPERATE TIME OF THEIR BLESSED LIVES!!!!! In regards to Mayeda, she needs to be fired NOW, TODAY, NO EXCUSES ANY LONGER - GET HER OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT!!!!! AND, ALL THE REST OF THEM, LET'S GET THIS ROLLING PEOPLE THE ANIMALS ARE DEPENDING ON US, WE HAVE TO DO IT, WHO ELSE IS GOING TO????
I've adopted both my cat and dog (adopted my dog when she was 12). I agree that if people stop going to pet shops and breeders, we might just be able to wipe out the homeless animal problem. Unfortunately I don't think this will ever come to be. Animal owners NEED to take more responsibility for the care of these creatures. If you have pets, don't seek out apartments that don't accept them! Don't bite off more than you can chew (so to speak) in the housing market so you won't have to abandon your pets! I also fear the people guilty of doing this would never sign this petition as it is. We seem to be preaching to the choir on this site. We get it, that's why we're here.
I am shocked and appalled by Ms. Mayeda's comment ""We take in 90,000 animals a year, three incidents over the numbers of thousands of animals that have come in during that period of time I think is very minor." This coming from the highest person in the animal care facility. This is just outrageous and it counter acts the slogan of the department "Care with Compassion" Where is the compassion for these poor defenseless animals. Yes there are a lot of homeless dogs, but the shelter is just that to help these animals find a home. These shelters are not for them to be abuse but to be cared for until a family comes for them. Then there is the issue of them being put to sleep, yes there are some that need to be put to sleep due there health problems. But these so called workers would enjoy putting these poor animals to sleep, they where in fact delighted to be the ones doing it. This is just uncalled for and there should be some action taken, first, by firing, putting in jail and fining the workers involved. Secondly, firing there supervisors and anyone who saw the cruelty to these animals and did nothing about it (as seen in the video by CBS 2, these workers would just pass by and would do nothing at all). Lastly, Marcia Mayeda needs to be fired for her inability to stop these actions and then for her attempting to make these actions seem minimal. By her own word she does not care for these animals and her job, as such she should be removed from her position immediately.
I am a tax payer in LA County and am blown away that ANY inhumane treatment of ANY animal under Marcia Mayeda's control is allowed - even condoned - by LA County Supervisors! Do your jobs and fix this problem NOW!
Any mistreatment of any animal is unacceptable. The fact that Marcia Mayeda thinks a small number of abuse cases is acceptable makes her the wrong person for the job. Why is she still working in the animal shelter system? She is obviously a disgrace to the animal care system. It is long past the time to review her. Get a director in who cares and finds mistreatment of animals appalling.
For pete's sake, how long are we going to tolerate this? As taxpayers, we're paying her salary, which I heard, was six figures! And she's doing a horrible job! Meanwhile California is drowning in debt and teachers are getting laid off! Fire her!
It's about time this was exposed. This has been ignored for so long. How can this woman sleep at night knowing these innocent animal are suffering in such horrible ways? Heartless!!!
It is disgusting and cruel how a human being can abuse their position, neglecting animals when there main purpose is to not only defend, but protect them. This individual should have no authority and needs to be accountable for her actions.
THIS IS TOTALLY UNREAL THE ANIMALS & THE SHELTER (CAN WE CALL THAT THIS)? THESE ANIMALS ARE SUFFERING & ALL THEY GET IS MORE ABUSE AND NEGLECT...PUT MARCIA MAYEDA IN A CAGE WITH THEM OVERNIGHT & SEE HOW QUICK (THAT IS IF SHE HAS A HEART) TO CHANGE THINGS WITH THE TAX DOLLARS THAT THESE PEOPLE PAY..
Anyone that does not have their pet spayed or neutered is just as guilty!! You are also part of this problem if you have purchased your pet instead of choosing adoption!!
Fire these useless people NOW!
I know what condition are like there...its a concentration camp at best. Those who allow these conditions to go on should be dismissed and never allowed to hold any position that has anything at all to do with animals.
This has been an ongoing problem for many years already. The shelter system in L.A. is a total disgrace. You would think we lived in a 3rd world country instead of one of the largest economic centers of the western hemisphere! Where is the accountability??? FIRE MAYEDA AND HER INCOMPETENT, UNCARING STAFF!!!
THE PURPOSE OF SHELTERS IS SUPPOSED TO BE FOR THE WELFARE OF THE ANIMALS. SADLY IT HAS BECOME A PLACE OF HORRORS WHERE DEATH IS THE MAIN FOCUS INSTEAD OF PLACING ANIMALS IN GOOD HOMES.ANYONE WITH HALF A HEART AND BRAIN SHOULD HAVE TO VISIT A SHELTER BEFORE THEY DUMP ANY ANIMAL WITHOUT SEEING FIRST HAND WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO THEIR PET. LET'S HOPE WITH EDUCATION PEOPLE WILL STOP BREEDING AND THE NEED TO DUMP THEIR LEFT OVER ANIMALS. THANK YOU
Lancaster Shelter is also known as the " Hell Hole" so many dogs are sick and go untreated for their illnesses. And we are not just talking little things, Dispemper, Parvo, Mange..Kennel Cough is EXPECTED.. Los Angeles County Shelters are worse then the City.. Something MUST be Done.. and NOW! Dogs are dying there, time is up.
Marcia Mayeda should be fired since she apparently does not know what the job entails. Heartless people who do not give a damn should not be given jobs that deal with animals. They have feelings to and she is allowing horrible things to happen to these innocent creatures. They can not help it that they ended up in that hellhole. They should at least be safe while they are there. If there are that many animals more space should be built for them other than stuffing them in the already full kennels. This horrible woman deserves nothing but a jail sentence. This is quite obviously animal cruelty and it should not be tolerated.
Don't let this abuse continue. Put people in charge who care for the animals.
