It’s been a terrible year for animals on Los Angeles streets.
Strays, runaways, neighborhood cats and dogs, and local fauna who’ve called Los Angeles home for hundreds of years have all faced their share of danger on L.A.’s roads in 2024.
Data provided by the City of Los Angeles 311 service shows this year’s number of fallen animals are measurably higher than the last, according to independent news site Crosstown LA.
So far, from the first of year through the end of July, the Los Angeles Department of Sanitation has been dispatched for dead animal removal a somber 18,859 times.
That’s up more than 15% from the same time frame in 2023; it’s about a 28% increase from 2021.
In fact, the last four years have all seen increases in the number of dead animal removal reports during that seven-month window — this year is the worst by far.
| Year (Jan. 1 – July 31) | Dead Animal Removal Calls in L.A. |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 13,945 |
| 2018 | 15,140 |
| 2019 | 14,570 |
| 2020 | 14,256 |
| 2021 | 14,745 |
| 2022 | 16,055 |
| 2023 | 16,363 |
| 2024 | 18,859 |
The calls for removal range from feral cats and dogs to rabbits and opossums, animals that give birth in litters. Many are struck by vehicles, while others fall victim to predators higher up on the food chain.
Spring through summer is historically the worst part of the year for animals dying on the streets as it typically lines up with “kitten season,” when litter animals give birth, officials told Crosstown.
Despite the best efforts to get these young animals off the streets and into shelters and homes, it’s simply too tall a task to save every feral cat or dog, leaving many to meet their ends on the cold asphalt.
While the reality is grim, there are steps that the average Angeleno can take to reduce the risk of an animal, pet or wild, from getting killed on city streets.
For one, make sure your animals are spayed or neutered. That way, if they escape your house or yard, they won’t be able to contribute to the problem of more animals being born than can be realistically managed.
Another tip from animal advocates: Keep your pets indoors — yes, including cats.
Make sure your dogs are leashed when out in public and if you have a yard, make sure there aren’t any easy escape routes.
For cat owners who want their pets to experience the outdoors without running the risk of them getting hurt or damaging the local ecosystem, consider creating a cat patio, a contained outdoor space that allows them to get fresh air and sunlight without the risk of it escaping to become a meal for a predator or running into traffic. Many owners have also had success walking their cats on leashes.
As for drivers, obeying posted speed limits, avoiding distractions and paying attention to obstacles in the roadway can reduce the risk of turning someone’s beloved pet into roadkill.
Animal lovers, and cleanup crews, will appreciate your contribution.
Crosstown LA originally published a story about roadkill cleanups in May, but released updated figures in its weekly email newsletter on Wednesday. To subscribe, click here.
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