As Los Angeles continues to face major troubles from its homeless population, a new issue is bubbling to the surface—animals are being abused on Skid Row.

In the city run by Mayor Karen Bass, Skid Row, the 50-block district in downtown, is home to almost 4,000 homeless Californians. 

Not only are the residents plagued with crime, trash, drugs, and medical emergencies, but animal advocates say pets are experiencing abuse as well.

“He was dissecting the dog’s leg,” Joey Tuccio, a volunteer with the nonprofit group Starts With One Today, told The Daily Signal, referencing an incident he encountered on Skid Row.

According to Tuccio, the dog had a leg that was badly infected, and the owner attempted to treat the injury.

“The dog’s leg was rotting so bad that it ended up needing an amputation,” he said. “We took him, and now he’s adopted, but we found out later that his owner, who was severely on drugs, was seen trying to dissect his leg with tweezers. We see things like this happen all the time.”

According to other animal advocates, this was not an isolated incident.

“[Dogs are being] force-bred, sold, and starved. They are infected, fought, and being raped by humans—yes, they are being raped by humans on our city streets,” Rebecca Corry, executive director of Stand Up for Pits Foundation, said during a hearing at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Corry’s nonprofit is suing the City of Los Angeles, Bass, the Los Angeles Police Department, and others over what it described as “the unethical treatment of animals in city shelters and on downtown’s Skid Row.” According to information obtained by TMZ in December, the lawsuit alleges the city has failed to enforce its animal cruelty statutes.

Tuccio said he agrees with Corry about the severity of the abuse, noting “it’s an incredibly huge issue.” Last week, he posted photos on social media that showed dogs suffering from neglect.

Tuccio relayed multiple incidents to show just how desperate animal abuse on Skid Row can get, including dogs that have overdosed accidentally by ingesting drugs.

“I was sent a video someone captured of a homeless man beating his dog. I sent it to the police and animal control, and I think they just gave him a citation. That was it,” Tuccio added.

The animal welfare volunteer said he has sent reports of abuse to police and animal control, but the group’s volunteers often have to address the immediate urgency of the situation.

“Sometimes, sadly, it’s so urgent that we just have to remove the dog ourselves,” Tuccio said. “But most of the time, we do call animal control and the police first. Sadly, we don’t normally get the response we want.”

“We’ll call animal control, and maybe one out of every 10 times they come,” he added. 

When asked by The Daily Signal what needs to be done, Tuccio replied, “We need to get the drug use issue under control.” 

“When I’m volunteering there, I walk by the homeless casually smoking crack. Homeless people are selling dogs to buy more drugs,” he said, adding that people breed dogs and sell them to homeless individuals who want companionship from a pet.

“We saw a case where a person made $500 from selling a litter of puppies on Skid Row. … They take that money and use it to buy more drugs.” 

Animal welfare activists said they are documenting incidents and posting on social media to raise public awareness on an often-overlooked issue.

“Don’t take my word for it—go to Skid Row … with a group of experienced people and see it for yourself,” Tuccio said.

The Daily Signal contacted Bass’ office for comment but did not receive a response.

Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., told The Daily Signal that Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., introduced a resolution to expel him from the U.S. House of Representatives as a deflection from her own personal controversies.

“We do know for a fact that she’s currently under attack,” Mills said. “Her ex-fiancé had to file a restraining order for harassment.”

“She’s under actual allegations, accusations, and investigations,” he added.

On a Tuesday social media post, Mills asked Mace if her inability to file the resolution for a vote is because she “didn’t think [she] would get called out?”

Mills’ comments came after Mace introduced a resolution Monday calling for his expulsion from the U.S. House of Representatives. In the resolution, Mace accused Mills of lying about his military record for political gain and physically abusing his former girlfriend.

Mills denied the allegations in statements to The Daily Signal.

“Show me where I’ve ever been charged or found guilty of anything,” Mills said.

Mills also criticized the resolution on social media, accusing Mace of avoiding a vote because she fears what could be uncovered about her personal life.

Mace did not respond to The Daily Signal’s request for comment on Mills’ statements. However, she described Mills’ response as typical behavior of a “sexual predator,” accusing him of attacking “the women who expose them.”

According to the resolution shared by Mace’s office and posted to the House website, the congresswoman contends the evidence against Mills is substantiated and warrants expulsion.

“We pulled all from public reporting,” Mace’s press secretary, Carlie Baker, told The Daily Signal. “I attached the resolution so you can see which sources we pulled from.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Speaking before an electrified crowd at Ohio State University on Tuesday, Vivek Ramaswamy discussed his experience with the American dream while promoting his campaign for governor.

“I wasn’t born a billionaire, I wasn’t born a millionaire, I wasn’t born an anything heir. I was an heir to nothing. But here I am now,” the American entrepreneur and Ohio gubernatorial candidate told the audience.

“And with your help, God willing, [I am] in a position to lead the very state where I was born and raised. That story is only possible in the United States of America.”

Ramaswamy was born and raised in Cincinnati, but his parents emigrated from southwest India. They came to America “with nothing to their name,” the candidate said, adding that their decision gave him the opportunity to become a successful businessman. He also is the youngest person to have run for president as a Republican, which he did in 2024 at the age of 37.

Ramaswamy later touched upon his agenda for Ohio. His said his priorities, should he be elected governor, include boosting jobs, lowering or ending capital gains and income taxes, and producing more energy in the state to help lower the cost of electricity.

On social issues, Ramaswamy attacked “wokeness” and spoke about improving schools.

“By the end of next year, this much I know: Our schools will be performing better because we will replace woke indoctrination with actual academic standards in math, reading, writing, and civics. You got to know something about your country to pledge allegiance to your country and be proud of your country,” Ramaswamy said to applause.

In a line that was reminiscent of Charlie Kirk, and the polite way the Turning Point USA founder engaged those on the political Left, Ramaswamy said he would bring that same agreeableness to Ohio politics.

“By the end of next year in this state, people of differing political beliefs will actually be able to be friends with each other and get together at the dinner table, like the Ohio I grew up in,” he said.

During the Q&A session, one audience member asked how Ramaswamy would ensure that the state’s “public services wouldn’t fail or really underperform” in light of his many proposed tax cuts. He replied that his policies will create an economic boom in Ohio, making up for any revenue shortfall related to lower taxes.

“I think if you have someone at the top who’s focused on cutting red tape and speeding permitting timelines, and if you combine all of that with actually taking the income and capital gains tax rate to zero, cutting property taxes, de-layering government, and then you market the state to the country, I think we’re going to have a boom that this state has not seen since the first Industrial Revolution,” he said.

Attendees were urged to vote for Ramaswamy in the upcoming May 5 Republican primary. If he wins, he will face Democrat Amy Acton in the general election.

Ramaswamy referred to the former Ohio Department of Health director as “Amy Lockdown Acton,” drawing boos as he criticized her COVID-19 response, including unpopular school closures.

In a head-to-head race between Ramaswamy and Acton, recent polling predicts a close result. A Bowling Green State University/YouGov poll conducted April 7-14 has Ramaswamy leading Acton with 48% of the vote to her 47%.

He closed the night with a return to the importance of making America a land of opportunity for everyone.

“I am grateful to this country for giving me those opportunities. That is the American dream. That is what makes us the greatest nation known to the history of mankind,” he said.

“I know that, together, we can lead Ohio to be the top state in the country. To raise a young family, to live the American dream, and to give your kids a world-class education, that is your birthright as an Ohioan.”

He concluded: “Ohio’s best days, and through Ohio, America’s best days, are actually going to be ahead of us.”

The candidate appeared Wednesday at family-owned Tee Jaye’s Country Place restaurant, where he continued campaigning and encouraged young people to “shape the future” and not to see themselves “as victims.”