DACC Pets are Family (PAF) Program

About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2022

The County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control’s (DACC) Pets Are Family (PAF) program keeps pets with their loving families. With a focus on providing equitable access to pet care resources in underserved communities, PAF offers low-cost or free pet food and supplies, professional pet behavior assistance, and veterinary care to pet owners who are considering relinquishing their beloved pets because they cannot afford to care for them.  Access to low-cost pet services has long been a critical need in Los Angeles County, only to be exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.  By offering these resources, DACC enables pet owners to provide quality care for the wellbeing of their pets, and the benefits are both immediate and far-reaching. Pet owners can keep their pets and both continue to enjoy the mutual benefits of the human-animal bond. Fewer pets are relinquished to County animal care centers, thereby reducing operational costs and putting fewer pets through the stress of being impounded or risking euthanasia if they cannot be adopted.  With fewer animals to care for, DACC staff are less overwhelmed and able to focus their limited time and resources on the stray and abandoned animals in the greatest need.