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LOS ANGELES — Animal control workers and advocates say a state law requiring pet shelters to delay euthanasia has led to overcrowding and increased dog fights in the city’s kennels, some of which date to the 1920s. 

“I primarily blame the city shelter problem on SB 1785,” said Phyllis Daugherty, Animal Issues Movement director. “The shelter should have the right to humanely euthanize those animals which pose a threat or danger to animals or to people.” 

County animal control officials and administrators at several city shelters have asked the state to reimburse the cost of caring for the animals longer. 

The Commission on State Mandates held hearings last week and is expected to make a decision on reimbursement requests in January. 

Overcrowding has forced workers to place enemy dog breeds in one kennel when they should be separated. Up to four fights break out daily. 

At a South-Central animal shelter, workers had to place an 11-year-old blind Akita into a kennel where six other dogs vied for food and water. Workers said two pit bulls recently attacked a German shepherd. 

Workers often use brooms and sticks to break up the fights. 

“It is an extreme situation for animal control workers to separate the dogs that are fighting,” said City Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, chair of the council’s Public Safety Commission. 

City officials are now hoping a voter-passed Measure F will aid workers who take in more than 70,000 dogs into the 386 kennels. The measure has earmarked $154 million for expansion and construction of more animal shelters. 

State Sen. Tom Hayden, D-Los Angeles, sponsored legislation to delay euthanasia in an effort to reduce the number of pets killed. 

“We kill way too many lost dogs and cats, and the legislation opened a new day be extending the holding periods and creating incentives to look for the owners or work with animal welfare activists to adopt them out,” said Hayden, who will run for a City Council seat when his term expires next month.