Los Angeles: Several Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers assigned to Southeast Community Police Station have taken on the task of feeding and caring for, obviously neglected, starving dogs on the streets of South Central Los Angeles. One of the officers, 19-year LAPD veteran Officer Sandra Magdaleno, began this effort 15 years ago after becoming exposed to these neglected animals. Officer Magdaleno stated, "I could not drive the streets hour after hour, day after day and ignore all the animals that I saw. So I began feeding one or two dogs a day by stopping and feeding them with cans of dog food, which I purchased and carried with me each day, as I patrolled the streets of Los Angeles."

On those days when Officer Magdaleno didn’t have dog food, and saw an obviously starving dog, she would purchase hamburgers and then return to feed the animal. She recalled an occasion while sitting in her patrol vehicle eating a sandwich; a hungry dog approached her window. Officer Magdaleno fed her sandwich to the dog. As time went by, Officer Magdaleno began visiting the area, while on her Christmas vacations, to feed and care for the animals.

Officer Magdaleno’s visible compassion towards these needy animals influenced other officers who worked at LAPD’s Southeast Area Community Police Station. Officers Kristi Nielsen, Catherine Sobieski and Hannu Tarjamo have followed suit, feeding hungry dogs on the streets of Los Angeles, using their own financial resources.

These officers have not only shown a strong commitment to protecting and serving the people of the Los Angeles community, but they have and continue to exhibit compassion towards "man’s best friend."

These officers can be made available to members of the media, by contacting Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.

This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Jason Lee, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.