A nonprofit working in Los Angeles’ Skid Row is reporting disturbing cases of severe animal abuse, including allegations that some people are using dogs in connection with drug activity, according to volunteers who work in the area.
Joey Tuccio, a volunteer with the organization Starts With One Today, said his team is regularly contacted about dogs being mistreated, abandoned, or even traded in exchange for drugs. Speaking to KTLA, he described a pattern of urgent calls coming in almost daily from the area.
Tuccio said volunteers often find animals living in extremely poor conditions on Skid Row, including cases where dogs appear neglected, overbred, or close to death. He added that some individuals have reportedly used animals to test substances, fearing contamination with dangerous drugs such as fentanyl.
The group shared that they frequently encounter puppies being sold on the street, while other animals are left without care. In one rescue case, a dog required urgent medical attention after suffering severe injuries, ultimately leading to the loss of a limb due to infection, according to the volunteers.
Jonathan Parker, co-founder of Starts With One Today, said rescuers have also come across cases where animals were being harmed by their own owners while those individuals were under the influence of drugs. He described repeated scenes of neglect and abuse during outreach efforts.
Despite the conditions, the organization continues to distribute supplies and provide assistance to both people and animals living in the area. However, volunteers say the scale of the problem far exceeds their resources.
Tuccio said the group has repeatedly contacted police and animal services but believes the response has been insufficient. He criticized what he sees as a lack of effective intervention, saying enforcement efforts have not meaningfully changed conditions on the ground.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced last year that the city would investigate reports of animal abuse in Skid Row.
According to her office, more than 100 officers with the Los Angeles Police Department have received training related to animal cruelty cases. Officials also stated that animals have been rescued and that citations, arrests, and referrals to prosecutors have resulted from ongoing enforcement efforts.
Even so, advocates like Parker argue that the situation remains largely unchanged. He said volunteers continue to encounter severe cases and feel they are often the only ones responding directly to animals in crisis.