Save OC Pets

Hello my name is Jackie Lamirande and I have been in the Animal Welfare Industry for over 30 years and an animal lover my entire life.

In July 2022 I was made aware of deplorable conditions and protocol being carried out at Orange County Animal Services, municipal shelter for Orange County. These include but not limited to: closing the shelter to public walk in viewing of the animals (appt. only), euthanizing adoptable animals, failure to cooperate with rescue organizations, and failure to provide proper care and medical treatment for the animals in their care.

My input to this message was based on personal experiences that the only way to effect change was thru litigation. 

On September 21, 2022 a lawsuit was filed by an animal welfare advocate, a dog rescue and a cat rescue in the Orange County Superior Court entitled:

Elizabeth Hueg, SAFE Rescue Team and Cats in Need of Human Care v. OCAC, OC Community Resources and numbered as 30-2022-01282419.

The lawsuit seeks the Court to

1)OPEN the shelter (OCAC claims they are "open" but the truth is the public can only get into the lobby) so more animals have a chance at adoption or owner redemption.

2)Provide the animals with necessary and prompt veterinary care, nutrition and shelter.

3)Hire kennel staff to provide the proper care to the animals.

4)Cooperate with rescues organizations so more animals get out alive.

5) Reinstate animal welfare programs which have past track record of success.

6)Stop euthanizing adoptable animals in violation of the law.

We are now asking for your help to help fund the incurring expenses and will continue to be incurred to support the lawsuit. Please know that any unused funds would be donated to local rescue groups.

These expenses include the following fees: court filing fees (each time a document is filled the court charges a fee), deposition transcript fees, expert witness fees, photocopying fees, service of process fees, exhibit presentation such as enlarging photos for argument or during hearing, investigation, travel expenses for out of town witnesses, witness fees and finally document control services to bate stamp documents and be a repository of documents produced .

Please donate to carry on with this journey for the animals. We as Orange County residents deserve better.

Thank you,

Jackie Lamirande