Los Angeles, September 15, 2022 –  LA Animal Services and Best Friends Animal Society, a leading animal welfare organization working to save the lives of cats and dogs in America’s shelters by 2025, are teaming up for another adoption campaign to encourage people to choose to adopt, not buy, their next pet. Adoption fees for dogs will be $51 (not including $20 license) and $75 for puppies. The adoption fees for cats and kittens will be waived thanks to a generous grant from the ASPCA. 

“We are pleased to join Best Friends Animal Society and animal welfare organizations across the country in celebrating National Adoption Weekend, which encourages the community to adopt, not shop for, a pet,” said Annette Ramirez, Interim General Manager for LA Animal Services. “We invite the community to come to our Centers and meet their new furry friend as our shelters are full of wonderful dogs, cats, rabbits, and pocket pets who are ready to be a part of your family.” 

Recent data by Best Friends showed in 2021 U.S. shelters saw an 8.1 percent increase in animal intakes that pet adoptions couldn’t keep pace with. This national adoption event brings together animal welfare organizations, like LA Animal Services and other shelters across the country to help us all save more lives by connecting adoptable animals with their future families. 

Dogs and cats adopted from LA Animal Services join their new families already spayed or neutered, vaccinated, licensed, and microchipped, and adopters receive a VCA Healthy Start Certificate, which provides up to $250 of follow up veterinary care within the first 14 days of adoption. In addition, canine companions adopted from LA Animal Services are also eligible for free dog training classes at the Paws for Life K9 Rescue People & Pet Innovation Center in Mission Hills, CA. Contact Info@pawsforlifek9.org for more details. You can view the wonderful dogs, cats, rabbits, and pocket pets who are ready to meet you and who are available for adoption in our Centers by going to laanimalservices.com/adopt.

"There is a growing shelter crisis across the country and the animal welfare community won’t just sit by and let innocent pets die,” said Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society. "In fact, it’s quite the opposite. We’re joining forces with our vast network of shelters and rescues across the country to host our third National Adoption Weekend since May to incentivize people to get out and adopt.”

Anyone considering adding a new pet to their family can make a difference by choosing to adopt instead purchasing their pet.

“We have proof that national promotions like the first two adoption weekends we did in May and July work,” said Castle. “Our July National Adoption Weekend saw close to 10,000 animals adopted in a three-day period.”

Center Operating Hours

Our six LA Animal Services locations are open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8am to 5pm, and Saturdays and Sundays, from 11am to 5pm. Appointments are required on Wednesdays and Fridays, for pet adoptions, fostering, and owner surrenders, with our Centers closed on Mondays. Sick or injured animals will be admitted without an appointment. Appointments may be scheduled by going online or by calling 1-888-452-7381.

To follow COVID-19 safety protocols, social distancing will be observed and face coverings will be required when in our Centers.

Per City Ordinance 187219, you will need to show proof of your COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of entry into the shelter. You can request a digital COVID-19 Vaccination Record if you were vaccinated in California (unless you were vaccinated at a federal facility) by visiting MyVaccineRecord.cdph.ca.gov.

For any questions regarding vaccination records, visit the LA County Vaccine Records website.

For more information about LA Animal Services, visit: laanimalservices.com.

LA Animal Services promotes and protects the health, safety, and welfare of animals and the people who love them, and is one of the largest municipal shelter systems in the United States. With six Centers across the City, LA Animal Services serves approximately 60,000 animals annually and responds to 20,000 emergency calls involving animals or people in danger. LA Animal Services is part of the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) international coalition, joining 38 municipal shelters and animal welfare organizations across the country to reimagine and transform the way shelters care for animals and their families, by offering access to resources to help keep families together; getting lost pets home quickly without having to enter the shelter system; providing food and medical assistance; and continuing to build on a strong adoption and foster program so pets find their permanent homes or are placed in foster care. Visit our link.tree for helpful links to the services and resources available to you and your companion animals. Connect with LA Animal Services and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

The Best Friends Network is comprised of thousands of public and private shelters, rescue groups, spay/neuter organizations and other animal welfare organizations in all 50 states. We are a coalition committed to saving the lives of homeless cats and dogs through collaboration, information-sharing an implementation of proven lifesaving strategies. Our partners support each other and inspire their own communities to increase lifesaving of dogs and cats across the country.