I only had 60 seconds to address the L.A. City Council, but…

In which Jill reveals what she couldn't say in one minute.

You’ve probably heard by now: Mayor Karen Bass’s proposed budget slashes funding for L.A. Animal Services, putting the future of our city’s most vulnerable animals—and the people who care for them—on the line. The rumor mill churned with talk of three shelter closures, and the rescue community erupted in protest.

I was among the outraged.

I joined the 500 protesters at City Hall last Monday and made it into the chambers to address the council finance committee on the impact of the proposed cuts. They gave me 60 seconds.

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If you’re on Facebook, you can view the post here.

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Sixty seconds. That’s barely enough time to order a Cobb salad, let alone explain the stakes for thousands of lives. I raced through my remarks, my words colliding with the relentless countdown of the timer.

Did I change any minds? I’ll never know.

But driving home, I couldn’t help but think: if only I’d had two more minutes, I could have made the risks crystal clear:

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I’m Jill Dyché, executive director of Outta the Cage rescue—and a proud co-parent to East Valley shelter alums Buster and Maggie.

Slashing the LA Animal Services budget is nothing short of a public health emergency.

We stand to lose 120 staff jobs—jobs that don’t just care for animals, but also respond to emergencies after wildfires and earthquakes, manage disease outbreaks, and enforce spay/neuter laws to stem the tide of unwanted litters and illegal breeders. Fewer staff means more disease, more suffering, and less hope for the animals and people who rely on these services.

If three shelters close, the consequences will be catastrophic. Euthanasia rates, already up 72% this year, will soar even higher. Overcrowded kennels will turn into holding pens for heartbreak—and imagine the epidemic of strays! The city’s own numbers show more than 1,200 dogs euthanized so far this year—many simply because there’s nowhere for them to go.

This isn’t just about animals. It’s about all of us. The science is clear: the health of humans, animals, and our environment are inextricably linked. Dog owners recover faster from illness and live longer. The “One Health” movement recognizes that what happens in our shelters ripples out into our neighborhoods, our hospitals, and our homes.

Those of you with companion animals already get this. Gutting the LA Animal Services budget endangers not only the animals, but the Angelenos who love them. Our city’s safety—and our heart—depend on restoring this funding.

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Since my appearance before the committee, Mayor Bass has denied that shelters will close and promised to use the “unappropriated balance” funds to patch the budget. But make no mistake: this still means less money for animals in crisis, for the staff who care for them, and for the city’s promise to be a model of compassion.

Now is the time for L.A. to show what kind of city we really are. Let’s not balance our budget on the backs of those who have no voice.

Restore the funding.

Protect our animals.

Protect ALL of us.