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Department of Animal Services (DAS) / Operating Hours Structure / Extended and Flexible Hours

Council File 26-1292

Under review — the city is studying whether to extend Animal Services shelter hours beyond the current Tuesday-Friday daytime schedule to help more working families adopt and reduce overcrowding at the six care centers.

Introduced
2026-09-09
Last changed
2026-09-11
Status
open
Expires
2028-09-11
Committee
Arts, Parks, and City Facilities Committee
Mover
MONICA RODRIGUEZ
Second
TIM MCOSKER

Brief

Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, seconded by Tim McOsker, introduced a motion directing the Department of Animal Services to study and implement extended and flexible operating hours. The motion aims to improve access to animal services for Los Angeles residents. It was referred to the Arts, Parks, and City Facilities Committee on September 9, 2026, and is scheduled for committee hearing on September 16, 2026.

Full summary

Councilmember Monica Rodriguez introduced this motion on September 9, 2026, in response to the current limited operating schedule at Los Angeles Animal Services' six animal care centers. Those facilities are currently open Tuesday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with closures on Mondays and City-observed holidays. The motion argues that these hours exclude many working adults and families who cannot visit during the day, and directs the Department of Animal Services to report back on how to restructure shelter operating hours to include more evenings and weekends. The motion's stated rationale centers on adoption outcomes and shelter overcrowding. Rodriguez argues that extended and flexible hours would give more potential adopters the opportunity to visit, make it easier for families to visit together, and help animals find homes more quickly. The motion frames expanded access not just as a convenience measure but as a tool for reducing shelter overcrowding and advancing the department's core mission of matching animals with appropriate families. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Tim McOsker and referred the same day to the Arts, Parks, and City Facilities Committee. As of the most recent activity on September 9, 2026, it remains pending in committee with no hearing date yet scheduled. The file is open and does not expire until September 9, 2028, giving the committee and department roughly two years to develop and present a restructuring plan before the file closes.

Activity (2)

  • 2026-09-11 Arts, Parks, and City Facilities Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on September 16, 2026.
  • 2026-09-09 Motion referred to Arts, Parks, and City Facilities Committee.

Documents (1)

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