By Jordi Matsumoto What happens to dogs who are abandoned or hurt in downtown LA? How do they survive, what are the statistics, what are the costs in terms of health and safety - and more urgently - who tries to help them?
The stray population has dramatically increased during the recession. A number of owners have become homeless yet are struggling to manage the commitment to care for a dog. Other owners have outright abandoned their poor pooches.
Who can desperate animals depend on - and what steps are taken to encourage owners to stay with their charges?
This is a story about the plight of pooches and the people behind them. For a quick peek of what's to come, visit this video.
I live in Century City and do freelance writing and directing. I have a Masters degree in Media & Communications from the London School of Economics. I have focused my creative efforts on developing projects that center on social issues. Most recently, I wrote and directed a fiction piece that explored political campaigning in America. "Running In 3rd Place" explored the campaign of "Councilman Johns," a local politician running for U.S. Senate. Having previously worked in politics, I was able to marry real life perspective with a fictional story.
When it comes to dogs, I believe it's hard not to have a soft spot for such amiable creatures. The issue of abandoned dogs in downtown LA recently came on my radar, though it has been a problem for years. A number of grassroots organizations have been working to tackle the associated problems. My hope is that this work will help to educate the public on the severity of the issue, leading to resources and involving people in the community working to create a healthier, safer environment for all..
I will produce a two part series in written form. I will also produce a video production with a behind the scenes look at these dogs and the people in their lives. In the production, I will attempt to capture information on the organizations working to combat the problems that arise from a growing population of abandoned dogs.
