Op-Ed: LA’s Budget Cuts Put Shelter Animals at Risk—Here’s How We Can Help

By Brittnei Schaeffler, CEO & Founder, Frost Fund

Los Angeles is currently facing a $1 billion budget deficit. In response, city leaders have proposed sweeping cuts across departments—and among the hardest hit is LA Animal Care Services. The proposed $6.4 million reduction, roughly 10% of the agency’s total budget, would eliminate over 60 current staff positions and leave more than 45 essential roles unfilled. These numbers are not just statistics—they represent real people, and even more importantly, the countless animals who depend on them.

If enacted, these cuts would exacerbate an already overwhelmed shelter system. LA’s public shelters are operating under extreme pressure, with limited resources, maxed-out capacity, and staff who are doing everything they can to care for a growing population of abandoned and surrendered pets. Reducing their ability to function isn’t just shortsighted—it’s devastating. These shelters are often the last lifeline for animals in crisis and for families with nowhere else to turn.

At Frost Fund, we’ve seen firsthand what happens when the system breaks down. Our team regularly steps in to provide emergency transports, rescue coordination, and community support where public resources fall short. But we can’t do it alone. The truth is: our ability to act quickly—to save lives—depends entirely on the generosity and support of people like you.

This is a moment for all of us to ask:

• Can I make a donation, even a small one, to support life-saving rescue missions?
• Have I educated myself on how these budget cuts could affect my community?
• Could my employer be willing to make a tax-deductible donation to an animal welfare cause?
• Can I volunteer my time, skills, or voice to support rescue operations?
• How can I use my unique strengths to protect the most vulnerable members of our city?

To help, Frost Fund has created an official transport sponsorship request to support our emergency response efforts. You can find it attached below. After watching the video message included in this email, please consider sharing this document with your network—friends, family, coworkers. You never know who might be in a position to help or who might appreciate the opportunity for a meaningful tax write-off.

We’ve spent the last two years working to find a donor or sponsor who can help us fund a dedicated transport vehicle. This initiative would allow us to respond more quickly, safely, and consistently to urgent rescue needs—especially as public systems falter.

This is a critical moment. If these budget cuts go through, the burden will shift even more onto nonprofits and community volunteers. We will need each other more than ever.

If you’re ready to stand in the gap for animals and the people who care for them, please consider supporting Frost Fund through one of the following giving methods:

• Venmo: @frost_fund
• Zelle / PayPal: teamfrostfund@gmail.com
• Online donations: www.frostfund.org

The animals need us. And right now—we need you.

Thank you for giving, for sharing, and for continuing to believe in compassion. Please keep LA and all its inhabitants—human and animal alike—in your heart.

🐾
Brittnei Schaeffler
Founder & CEO, Frost Fund