LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a mutual assistance agreement last week between their animal control department and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Los Angeles, also known as the spcaLA."What this means is we have mutually agreed with the spcaLA, an agency we've worked cooperatively with over the years, on the generalities involving assistance and resource sharing in times of emergencies here in the county," said Marcia Mayeda, director of the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control. "The agreement addresses issues such as record keeping, indemnification and other important issues pertinent to fulfilling joint agency tasks." Mayeda said brush fire evacuations tops the list of disaster response incidents in L.A. County, but the two agencies will work together to respond to earthquakes, large animal evacuations, terrorism, floods and other emergencies. "Our partnership with the spcaLA infuses more trained staff and volunteers and emergency equipment into our operation enhancing our ability to respond and deploy into the communities more efficiently and effectively during a disaster," she added. Mayeda said L.A. County Animal Control will be approaching other area animal service agencies to join in the mutual aid agreement. "With intersecting jurisdictions and bordering service cities, these types of agreements make good sense," she said. "A disaster or emergency knows no bounds."

********** Published: October 06, 2011 - Volume 10 - Issue 25