Long Beach Ends 26-Year Partnership with spcaLA, Aiming for Improved Animal Care Services

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach has officially ended its 26-year partnership with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles (spcaLA), citing non-compliance with the lease agreement and ongoing operational concerns. The termination requires spcaLA to vacate the Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) campus within 30 days, marking a significant shift in the city’s approach to animal care.

For decades, spcaLA has operated on city-owned land adjacent to the LBACS facility, paying just $120 per year for the lease. Additionally, the city has covered 50% of the operating costs for the entire campus, despite concerns that spcaLA has not been fulfilling its obligations under the agreement. The city’s decision to terminate the partnership stems from long-standing issues, including space limitations, failure to comply with municipal reporting laws, and a drastic reduction in the number of adoptions facilitated by spcaLA.

Mayor Rex Richardson announced the decision, emphasizing the need to improve services for the 4,000 animals that enter LBACS annually. “While we appreciate aspects of our longstanding partnership with spcaLA, the time has come to embark on a new journey to better serve our animals and communities,” Richardson said. “This transition will allow us to provide a higher level of care and quality of life for the animals who come into our space as well as enhance the critical animal care services we provide for Long Beach and other adjacent cities.”

The original agreement between Long Beach and spcaLA began in 1998 with the goal of addressing high euthanasia rates and increasing adoptions. Under the contract, spcaLA was responsible for operating the adoption center, groundskeeping, and maintenance, while LBACS handled animal control. However, over the years, the city claims spcaLA has taken control of more than 50% of the facility, leaving LBACS with unrestricted access to only 19% of the campus. This has resulted in shelter overcrowding and limited LBACS’s ability to expand operations. City officials have repeatedly attempted to resolve the issue, but spcaLA has been unwilling to cooperate.

In addition to space concerns, spcaLA has failed to comply with Long Beach Municipal Code Section 6.16.190(J)(3), which requires regular reporting of animal adoptions, transfers, or sales. The last report submitted by spcaLA was in April 2020, meaning the organization has failed to provide required documentation for nearly five years. City officials view this as a serious transparency issue, making it impossible to track the number of animals being adopted from the facility.

Another major concern has been spcaLA’s decreasing role in animal adoptions. In 2011, spcaLA took in 2,856 adoptable animals from LBACS. By 2024, that number had plummeted to just 76, forcing LBACS to take on a significantly larger adoption burden. Last year alone, LBACS facilitated 2,159 positive adoption outcomes, while spcaLA contributed minimally. This shift contradicts the original partnership agreement, which designated spcaLA as the primary organization responsible for adoptions.

Local animal activists have had a long love-hate relationship with spcaLA at the Long Beach facility. Many activists viewed the organization as one that emphasized money over adoption, often prioritizing financial interests over the well-being of the animals in its care. Over the years, these concerns have fueled frustration among rescue groups and volunteers who have criticized spcaLA’s lack of transparency and reluctance to take in more adoptable animals from LBACS.

After years of attempting to resolve these issues, the city determined that continuing the partnership was no longer viable. “We did not make this decision lightly,” said City Manager Tom Modica. “This comes after years of diligently trying to work with spcaLA to agree on a collaborative arrangement and to implement higher quality care for our animals. We are committed to providing the best possible care, and after careful review, we determined we must step away from this partnership.”

LBACS currently operates with a staff of 51 and an annual budget of $7.8 million. With the departure of spcaLA, the city anticipates an increase in operational costs to support the expanded space, additional staff, and increased maintenance needs. However, officials do not expect any disruptions to services and are confident that LBACS can take full control of its operations without negative impacts.

Despite the sudden shift, the city expressed its appreciation for spcaLA’s past contributions but remains firm in its decision to move forward without the organization. “We express our appreciation to spcaLA for their partnership and wish them well in their future endeavors,” Modica stated. “But our focus now is on the future—on building a shelter that truly meets the needs of our community and the animals that depend on us.”

Long Beach officials are prepared to take legal action if spcaLA does not vacate the premises within the given 30-day timeframe. In the meantime, LBACS is working with partner rescue organizations to ensure a smooth transition and will provide updates on expanded adoption programs and services in the coming weeks. The city encourages residents to visit longbeach.gov/acs for updates on adoption events and shelter initiatives.

Long Beach Local News reached out to spcaLA and we are waiting to hear back with a statement.