NKLA coalition efforts on-track for No-Kill December in L.A. city shelters

Celebrities use social media to urge Los Angelenos to adopt shelter dogs and cats; spay/neuter their pets

After reducing shelter deaths by 3,500 through 10 months, No-Kill Los Angeles campaigns to finish the year strong

LOS ANGELES - December 2012 could be one for the record books in Los Angeles city animal shelters: an entire month without killing any adoptable, animals.

NKLA, the Best Friends Animal Society-led program aimed at reducing the killing of animals in Los Angeles municipal animal shelters, is work with the Los Angeles Animal Services in an effort to make December a no-kill month.

Celebrities have come out in support of the NKLA push to give shelter dogs, and cats, the gift of life this December. To date, more than 50 of Hollywood's noteables have tweeted, Facebooked and blogged, urging people to adopt LA shelter animals to help reach the no-kill December goal as well as spay/neuter their pets.* (Celebrities listed at bottom of this news release).

And the first half of December shows encouraging results: the save rate in LA city shelters has been 82.5 percent and no adoptable animals have been killed.

Already through the month of October, shelter deaths in LA city shelters has been reduced by 3,500, which surpasses the one-year NKLA goal, with two months of statistics still to be reported. To date, Best Friends Animal Society Pet Adoption and Spay/Neuter Services in Mission Hills has pulled 3,000 animals from LA city shelters. These pets either got adopted from the Best Friends' adoption center or were dogs sent onto Best Friends' Pup My Ride transports for adoption in other parts of the United States.

In keeping with the envelope-pushing spirit of the campaign, Best Friends Animal Society and its coalition of LA based animal welfare groups are using this momentum to achieve what once they could only dream about, and make December the first month in history that the number of animals killed in LA City shelters is ZERO. In other words, a No-Kill December.

Brenda Barnette, general manager of LA Animal Services reaffirmed that Los Angeles has aspires to become a no -kill City and said she is grateful for the support of the NKLA effort in 2012. "The City shelters are onboard for the December no-kill push."

"We are asking the community of Los Angeles and the rescue community help us achieve this goal. What better Holiday gift that a new home of their own and a new chance at life for our amazing companion animals?"

Marc Peralta, executive director for Best Friends Los Angeles, who in recent months has been leading NKLA efforts, is enthusiastic about the work achieved so far in 2012.

"However, our dedication to the animals does not stop there," he said. "As a community we want to do everything we can for the animals want to finish off 2012 even stronger, for them. However, we will need everyone's help to make December no-kill and we hope people will join us to spread the word through their personal networks and through social media."

Peralta encourages people who want to help further the no-kill goal to consider fostering a pet, especially if someone isn't able to adopt an animal. "Fostering is an excellent way to give the pet the time they need to find their forever home," he said.

People who want to adopt a dog or cat through Dec. 23 can take advantage of a special discount on select pets at all LA City shelters through a special "12 Pets of Christmas" adoption promotion, sponsored by Found Animals Foundation, which will subsidize the cost of pulling select animals from LA Animal Services shelters. The discount is $40 on dogs and $30 on cats.

To take advantage of the discount program, people should print out the coupon and bring it with them to any Los Angeles city shelter or to the Best Friends Pet Adoption & Spay/Neuter Center. Eligible for the discount are adult cats, big dogs, black pets, bully breeds, pets with medical needs, senior pets, overweight pets, bonded pairs, shy pets, Chihuahua mixes, exotic pets and dogs or cats who should be the only pet in a house. Rescue groups also are eligible for the discount when pulling pets for adoption placement.

Last year, 17,000 healthy and adoptable animals were killed in Los Angeles city shelters. The five-year NKLA goal is to reduce that 17,000 to zero.

"By making December a no-kill month, we could push that number to 5,000, which would be an extraordinary achievement," Battista said.

*Celebrities lending their support to No-Kill December include:

Ellen DeGeneres
Sophia Bush
Alyssa Milano
Carrie Ann Inaba
Emmanuelle Vaugier
Jason Grey Stanford
Kristin Bauer
Maggie Lawson
Neko Case
Tim Omundson
Nola Singer
Tricia Helfer
Valerie Ortiz
Kelly Wearstler
Emma Kenney
Julie Marie Berman
Laura Dern
Bill Maher
Jackson Galaxy
Marlane Barnes
Lesley-Ann Brandt
Seamus Dever

About Best Friends Animal Society®

Best Friends Animal Society®, named Animal Welfare Non-Profit National Brand of the Year based on the 2012 Harris Poll EquiTrend® study, is a national animal welfare organization building no-kill programs and partnerships that will bring about a day when there are No More Homeless Pets®. The society's leading initiatives in animal care and community programs are coordinated from its Kanab, Utah headquarters, the country's largest no-kill sanctuary. This work is made possible by the personal and financial support of a grassroots network of supporters and community partners across the nation.

To become a fan of Best Friends Animal Society on Facebook go to: //www.facebook.com/bestfriendsanimalsociety

Follow Best Friends on Twitter: //twitter.com/bestfriends

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