The Los Angeles County Quality and Productivity Commission (QPC) announced recipients of its 2023 awards during its Annual Productivity and Quality Awards (PQA) ceremony on October 18.

The Annual Productivity and Quality Awards (PQA) Program honors departmental productivity and quality improvement efforts deserving recognition. The 2023 Top Ten winners represent innovative ways to empower some of the most underserved, disadvantaged, and vulnerable populations in the County—children, justice involved men and women, young people of color, and people experiencing food insecurity. These projects provided critical care and services during these challenging times.

The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC) is honored to have won a Top Ten award for its Pets Are Family (PAF) Program. The Pets Are Family (PAF) program is a multi-initiative intervention program that addresses the most critical needs expressed by pet owners in our communities. These intervention services include free pet food and supplies, a mobile veterinary Vet@ThePark program to reach underserved communities, Care vouchers for medical and supportive pet services, and a medical helpline help keep families and their pets together, reducing the number of animals surrendered to DACC animal care centers and preventing the grief of separation for families who wish to keep their pets.

“Pets Are Family has been instrumental in maintaining the human-animal bond between pets and their families,” said DACC Director Marcia Mayeda. “Pets Are Family reduces animal care center admissions and supports our residents and their beloved pets when times are difficult and they need assistance to stay together. We are honored to be recognized by the Los Angeles County Quality and Productivity Commission for our impact in the community.”

These programs have directly benefitted thousands of pet owners and their pets since early 2020 and have also led to fewer impoundments at animal care centers, resulting in cost savings for DACC and its contract cities. The PAF program also helps control pet overpopulation and promote public health by providing low-cost spay/neuter services to reduce the number of roaming animals. Each of these programs is either primarily or fully grant and donation funded, receiving the support of dozens of partners such as the Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation, the ASPCA, California for All Animals, Petco Love, and many more.

For more information about DACC’s Pets are Family Program, please check out https://animalcare.lacounty.gov/dacc-support-services/.

For more information about the Los Angeles County Quality and Productivity Commission (QPC), please check out https://qpc.lacounty.gov/36th-productivity-and-quality-awards/

About the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC)

DACC is one of the largest animal care and control agencies in the nation, operating seven animal care centers and providing services to more than three million residents and their pets. DACC operates under the nationally recognized Socially Conscious Sheltering model to ensure the best possible outcomes for animals and the community. As a community resource center for pets and owners, DACC protects people and animals from harm, provides care for lost and unwanted animals, reunites lost pets with their families, and strives every day to move closer to its goal of finding a loving home for every adoptable pet that comes through its doors. To learn more about DACC, the resources DACC provides, and view its animals, visit www.animalcare.lacounty.gov  or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X. To support DACC’s efforts, please donate to the Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation at www.lacountyanimals.org. To learn more about Socially Conscious Sheltering, visit https://scsheltering.org/.