"Six months before my husband, Richard, passed away, Pryor's Planet became official. We've been actively working ever since to educate the community about the plight of animals," Pryor explained.

"Rescuers work tirelessly on behalf of animals," she said. "They are our unsung heroes. It's about the animals and yet it's an uphill battle. It starts in the Mayor's office and honestly, he's not listening or helping."

Pryor fired off a letter to Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa which is posted on www.PryorsPlanet.com.

In personal discussions, Pryor noted that the Mayor promised to fight on behalf of animals.

"The Mayor has been a tragic disappointment. I've been outspoken about this. He flip-flopped on the animal rights issue. Meanwhile, the animals suffer across Los Angeles as the entire shelter system is down to only two veterinarians. The system is corrupt. They are not treating animals."

Pryor has heard many stories.

Most recently, she heard about a woman who considered adopting a cat at a Los Angeles animal shelter. When she returned to the shelter the next day to complete the adoption, the cat had been moved to the sick ward.

Instead of the healthy cat from the previous day, the cat's mouth was hanging open and it was struggling for breath.

The woman was advised not to adopt the cat because it had gotten sick and the shelter could not afford to give it antibiotics which cost approximately $30. If the woman didn't adopt the cat, she was told it would probably be euthanized.

The shelter staff encouraged the woman to look at other animals that were healthy and available. Looking into the cat's eyes, the woman saw an animal in need. She completed paperwork against the shelter's advice, took the cat to a veterinarian who ordered antibiotics, and the cat made a full recovery within days.

"This is a common story," Pryor explained. "No treatment. Euthanize. It's not OK. Many of the animals in shelters need treatment and yet there is nothing. One German Shepherd named Duchess was in a shelter. She was always looking down as though she was sad. When she was rescued, it was discovered that she had a spinal injury. She wasn't sad at all. She simply wasn't treated."

Pryor points out that rescuers are forced to play the game with the city. They aren't allowed to speak out or speak up for fear of losing their New Hope status that allows rescuers to adopt animals on an alert list. Fees are waived by the animal shelter in the New Hope program in an attempt to eliminate obstacles that might prevent euthanasia.

"We need to build a partnership with the city and gain respect. The Mayor should listen to us, but he won't. So, now we have to use our voices to bring the community and rescue groups together," Pryor said.

"Education is key in this fight. We want to educate our children, educate our community, and educate our government. Animals need our help. We need responsible pet owners and responsible government. I want people to become more involved. We all need to use our voices," Pryor said. "I am proud to use my voice on behalf of the animals, because I am glad to see animals when they receive the justice they deserve."

For more information on animal rescues, adoption, donations and volunteer opportunities, visit www.PryorsPlanet.com.

* Note: Both Charlie and Clarabella, the dogs pictured with Jennifer Pryor, are currently in need of homes. For more information on adoption contact www.PryorsPlanet.com.