LA animal agency denies claim 800 dogs at risk of being euthanized due to overcrowding

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Los Angeles Animal Services is denying claims made in a viral email that says 800 dogs at its shelters are at risk of being euthanized.

The email, allegedly written by a department employee who oversees the volunteer coordinator department claims that due to overcrowding, the agency was considering changing its criteria so upwards of 800 dogs will have to be euthanized if they're not adopted in the next four weeks.

L.A. Animal Services says that allegation is simply not true, saying the city of Los Angeles will not euthanize any healthy animals at its shelters. General Manager Staycee Dains called the email "shocking" and "100% incorrect."

"Unless your pet, your loved one is severely ill and is in a lot of pain and discomfort then there's no reason why we should be euthanizing hundreds of animals," L.A. City Councilmember Kevin de León said.

Overcrowding, however, is a real issue for local shelters.

"I would hope that regardless of where you live in the city of L.A., if you want a loving pet please go to your local city of L.A. shelter," de León said.

Dains is calling on animal lovers in the city to foster, adopt, volunteer and help rescue the animals.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story stated that the email was allegedly written by a volunteer. This has since been updated to reflect that the individual is a department employee. We've also further clarified that L.A. shelter officials said they do not euthanize healthy animals.