On June 28, the Buzz passed along a request from the L.A. Department of Animal Services, asking for short-term foster homes for shelter pets over the Fourth of July holiday weekend (to make room for the inevitable influx of new strays over that stressful period).
This week, the Department sent out a thank-you letter to everyone who helped – the effort was a huge success. Â Not only were more than 700 pets fostered…but more than 400 found permanent homes. Â Here’s LADAS’ note:
Every year around the Fourth of July, animal shelters fill to capacity with lost pets spooked by the loud sounds of fireworks. During this challenging time, available shelter space can be the life-saving difference.
In just four days, with the help of adopters, volunteers, staff, community partners and adoption partners, the shelters were able to place over 700 dogs and cats from our six City shelters to create the critical space needed. 421 of these dogs and cats were adopted into homes of their own – an increase over 240 adoptions last year.
Thank YOU Los Angeles animal lovers. With your amazing help, we were able to create the life-saving space for 667 dogs and cats who came into the City shelters over the holiday weekend. Besides adoptions, 161 dogs and cats were placed into temporary foster homes giving them a break from the shelter environment and home care that does so much to help prepare them for a future good home.
The dogs and cats are especially grateful for reduced adoption fees for dogs, puppies and kittens subsidized by Best Friends Animal Society and the 100% underwritten adoption fees for cats over 4 months courtesy of a generous ASPCA grant.
According to L.A. Animal Services General Manager Brenda Barnette, the July 4 short-term foster idea originated last year at the East Valley Shelter.  It was so successful that staff rolled it out citywide this year.
Of course, the next step now is for DAS to reunite all the new Fourth of July refugees with their families.
If you or someone you know lost a pet last weekend:
- Visit the closest shelter and neighborhood emergency clinics.
- Post pictures and posters in the area where you last saw your pet and offer a reward.
- Walk your neighborhood (or area lost) and talk to people. Sometimes people take strays in not realizing that they need to go the shelter so you can find them.
- Don’t give up.
LA Animal Services holds animals for five days, not counting weekends, before making them available for adoption. Stray pets are checked for microchips, license tags and name tags. Photos of incoming animals are also posted online at: LAAnimalServices.com/shelter-search-lost-pet.
The LA Animal Services shelters are open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. To find the shelter closest to you, see LAAnimalServices.com/shelters or call (888) 452-7381.
