To the editor: The heartbreaking scenes from Southern California sanctuaries reveal that even well-intentioned efforts can fail the animals they aim to help (“Financial strain puts SoCal humane rescue sanctuaries on the brink, animals at risk,” May 9).
But here’s the uncomfortable question: Why are so many animals needing rescue in the first place? The relentless breeding of companion animals and farm animals overwhelms shelters, while the public’s demand for animal products fuels a cycle of exploitation that no funding can fix.
We must demand better — not just more donations, but smarter policies, stricter oversight and a cultural shift away from treating animals as commodities. Every animal deserves a life free from suffering, whether in a sanctuary or on a plate.
The tragedies in SoCal remind us why that mission is urgent.
Ben Williamson, Torrance
This writer is executive director of animal advocacy nonprofit Animal Outlook.
