LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The L.A. Animal services Department has a gift for city residents this 4th of July -- a free dog.
The agency says shelters are swamped this time of year with frightened dogs who have escaped their yards, fearful of the loud noises that come from fireworks and big parties. So today through Sunday, and again on Tuesday, all dogs at all six L.A. Animal Services Centers will be free for adoption. Funding comes from a grant by CBS EcoMedia Inc. L.A. Animal Services pets are vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and microchipped. While the dog adoption fees are waived, there will be a $20 dog license fee applied for L.A. City residents.
An L.A. Animal services Department statement says that ''Every year around the Fourth of July, L.A. Animal Services Centers fill beyond capacity with terrified, lost pets. This means that available shelter space can be the difference between life and death for our animal guests who have been with us past the required hold period. The public can make that life-saving difference by fostering a pet for four days or more or adopting.
Four days allows L.A. Animal Services the time needed to contact and return lost pets to their owners.''Applications may be filled out online (www.laanimalservices.com/volunteer/foster-program) or potential dog moms and dads can visit a shelter to fill out paperwork.
Applicants must provide a government-issued identification card and proof of rabies vaccinations for dogs currently in their care. Foster volunteers will be able to pick up a pet to foster during their visit, or the shelter will reach out when they need the most help.
L.A. Animal Services Centers are open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm and Sunday 11 am to 5 pm.
They are closed on Mondays and the Fourth of July. To find the nearest shelter, residents can log onto www.laanimalservices.com/shelter-locator or call (888) 452-7381.