Animal Shelters at the Brink: Addressing the Crisis in Arizona and California
How Best Friends Animal Society and the ASPCA Fail Shelters in Crisis—and What Must Change Now
A crisis is erupting in the American Southwest that demands immediate intervention. Shelters in Arizona and California are grappling with unprecedented challenges, ranging from severe overcrowding to allegations of mismanagement and criminal negligence. As someone who has dedicated decades to animal welfare, I find it crucial to expose these issues and drive meaningful, systemic change.
Alarming Allegations: A Symptom of a Deeper Problem
Recent investigations into the Humane Societies of San Diego and Southern Arizona have unveiled serious misconduct. Hundreds of small animals, initially intended for adoption, were transferred to Colton Jones, owner of a reptile breeding business called The Fertile Turtle. Disturbingly, many of these animals are believed to have ended up as reptile food. This horrific incident underscores severe lapses in transparency and accountability within shelter operations—demonstrating how well-meaning policies can spiral into disastrous outcomes.
However, this troubling scenario is not an isolated incident; it reflects a broader crisis fueled by the high-pressure environment created by national organizations. While there is no valid excuse for ill-advised or dangerous decisions made by local shelters, it’s essential to understand the unhealthy dynamics that arise from the relentless pressure imposed by these national organizations. Overcrowding and systemic neglect push shelters to make desperate decisions that jeopardize animal welfare.
The real crisis extends beyond individual cases like The Fertile Turtle; it is indicative of a nationwide failure to confront the root causes of animal overpopulation, ineffective shelter management practices, and a lack of stringent enforcement of ethical standards. This ongoing situation calls for a reevaluation of the policies set forth by national organizations and a commitment to sustainable, responsible animal welfare practices.
The Role of National Organizations: Pressures from Best Friends and the ASPCA
In recent years, national organizations such as Best Friends Animal Society and the ASPCA have introduced well-intentioned initiatives aimed at reducing euthanasia numbers. Their push for shelters to meet the “No Kill 90% Live Outcome” benchmark is admirable in theory. However, in practice, it can create unsustainable pressures on local shelters—particularly those with limited resources. As these shelters scramble to meet lofty goals, they may turn to partnerships and practices that bypass ethical considerations.
In the case of The Fertile Turtle, the rush to lower euthanasia numbers and “empty” the shelter led to a morally questionable decision. Many critics argue that this is an unintended consequence of the pressure imposed by national organizations. Shelters are cornered into finding any means possible to transfer animals, often without proper oversight, leaving vulnerable animals at the mercy of subpar or even predatory private businesses.
The focus on metrics, like live release rates, distract from the real issues plaguing animal welfare. Instead of tackling the core problems—such as illegal puppy mills or inadequate legal protections and spay/neuter services—many local shelters are simply passing animals along to avoid poor statistics. This is where Best Friends and the ASPCA need to step up, not just with rhetoric but with tangible support.
Historical Context: Management Challenges at Northeast Valley Shelter
In 2011, Best Friends Animal Society entered into a highly favorable agreement with the City of Los Angeles to manage the Northeast Valley Shelter, with ambitions to transform it into a successful pet adoption center. However, between 2016 and 2019, the shelter faced significant operational challenges and multiple lawsuits related to dog attacks, most notably involving a pit bull named Bleu, who severely injured a young girl. These incidents raised critical questions about Best Friends' adoption practices and their ability to manage animal shelters responsibly.
Despite their initial promises, these legal challenges have exposed serious flaws in Best Friends' operational judgment and capacity to manage dangerous animals. By prioritizing the Live Release Rate—a metric aimed at reducing euthanasia—over public safety, Best Friends succumbed to their own misguided focus, with dire consequences. Their emphasis on boosting live outcomes at all costs appears misaligned with the practical demands of effective shelter management, where public safety and thorough vetting should be paramount. Consequently, local shelters must critically assess the advice and support they receive from Best Friends, keeping in mind the organization’s track record and the potential consequences of blindly following its guidance.
Fundraising and the “Carpetbagger” Dilemma
One of the more troubling aspects of Best Friends and the ASPCA’s involvement in states like California and Arizona is the perception that they are “carpetbaggers.” These organizations raise millions of dollars from local donors but are criticized for not delivering proportionate results for the communities that provide these funds. For example, while Best Friends operates with significant resources, its actual financial commitment to effectively solving Arizona’s and California’s shelter crises remains ambiguous at best.
Critics have pointed out that while these organizations are national powerhouses with substantial lobbying influence, they have failed to leverage that power effectively. They could, for instance, spearhead legislative reforms that help prevent puppy mill operations or increase funding for local cruelty investigations. Yet, their attention often seems focused on fundraising campaigns rather than grassroots solutions that benefit the very communities they claim to support.
While they raise millions from sympathetic donors, their influence on solving systemic animal welfare issues remains unclear. For example, Best Friends’ executive compensations alone total nearly $4 million, and the ASPCA’s CEO earns over $1 million annually. The question remains: Why hasn’t more of this money been channeled into tangible actions that could transform the situation in places like Arizona and California?
A Call for Accountability and Action
Despite their vast resources and national influence, Best Friends and the ASPCA have failed to take bold stances on legislative reforms or to push for tighter regulations that could address the root causes of shelter overcrowding. For example, stricter laws are needed to combat interstate puppy mill operations and enhance cruelty investigation protocols, yet these organizations seem content with piecemeal victories or symbolic gestures.
It’s time for Best Friends and the ASPCA to step up. They need to redirect more of the funds they raise in local communities into direct, meaningful actions that benefit those communities. This includes:
Lobbying for more stringent animal welfare laws.
Expanding spay/neuter services.
Funding cruelty investigations and enforcement training.
Launching public education campaigns to curb pet overpopulation at its source.
Funding foster and behavior rehabilitation programs.
These organizations wield immense power but have yet to fully tap into their potential to create lasting change where it matters most—on the ground in struggling shelters.
A Path Forward: Mobilizing Resources for Real Change
While the challenges are significant, there are clear paths forward. Take Los Angeles, for instance, where mobile spay/neuter clinics have already proven to be highly effective in reducing intake numbers by providing free or low-cost services to underserved communities. This model can and should be expanded, but it requires national organizations like Best Friends and the ASPCA to make long-term investments in these community-based solutions.
A coordinated effort between national organizations and local shelters could amplify these successes. By channeling more resources into collaborative, on-the-ground efforts—such as expanding spay/neuter services and increasing cruelty investigation capacity—these organizations can help transform the crisis into an opportunity for systemic reform.
Moreover, transparency and accountability must become a priority. All stakeholders—shelters, volunteers, policymakers, and national organizations—must work together to ensure that decisions prioritize the welfare of the animals above all else. This means enacting tighter regulations on commercial and backyard breeders, holding unethical actors accountable, and focusing on sustainable solutions rather than chasing numbers.
The Time for Action is Now
The animal shelter crisis in Arizona and California is a stark reminder that well-meaning goals can sometimes lead to devastating outcomes when not supported by adequate resources and oversight. But it is not an unsolvable problem.
Best Friends and the ASPCA have raised millions from communities in crisis and have a moral obligation to turn those funds into meaningful action. It is no longer enough to host high-profile fundraising events and rely on publicity campaigns to bolster their image. Local communities are demanding results. Shelters need real support. Lawmakers need to be pressured into enacting stronger animal welfare legislation. And the public must see tangible change.
By investing in long-term, sustainable solutions and working collaboratively with local shelters, these national organizations can help turn this crisis into a chance for real, systemic reform. It’s time for Best Friends and the ASPCA to lead the charge—not through slogans or symbolic victories, but through decisive action that transforms our shelters from places of crisis into beacons of hope for animals across the Southwest.
Ed Boks is a former Executive Director of the New York City, Los Angeles, and Maricopa County Animal Care & Control Departments. His work has been published in the LA Times, New York Times, Newsweek, Real Clear Policy, Sentient Media, and now on Animal Politics with Ed Boks. He is available for consultations at animalpolitics8@gmail.com
Let's not forget Humane Society United States. With hundreds of millions in assets, lawyers, lobbyists and outrageous executive salaries, last I checked, their website had a full page of whining they could not pass meaningful puppy mill legislation because the AKC (the org that ruins breeds with exaggerated traits standards) objected. More indication these orgs actually need homeless suffering companion animals as fundraising gold like the ASPCA commercials of shivering, miserable mill dogs . Collectively, national animal welfare orgs could significantly correct the issues in 24 months with irresponsible and mill breeding legislation, legally requiring Craigslist to enforce it's own policy against commercial pet listings (thousands daily), fleets of high volume free mobile free spay neuter clinics demonstrated on "Dr. Jeff Rocky Mountain Vet" economically produced. They could get that organized in a few months with their collective billions with the same expertise they use for huge fundraising campaigns.
Reportedly Maddies Fund, Best Friends is instituting new doctrines to reduce shelter services, public access to shelters, and releasing domestic cats and kittens (not feral) into neighborhoods to relieve shelter overpopulation instead of applying their vast resources into meaningfully addressing the sources of overpopulations. Corporate sponsors and big donors should withdraw funding until these orgs produce real and immediate results Having your name or logo on their website as supporter is no longer automatic public virtue signal as evidenced by the horrific mess shelters are in, struggling every day with overpopulation. Volunteers, staff, fosters and everyone associated with shelter crisis understands the massive failure of the national animal welfare orgs.
Fantastic article, these “fat cats” are eating up all the funds that the “charity” takes in - it’s almost sickening.