#Freedom100 Promotion to Save Lives During July 4th Weekend

Millions in Los Angeles will celebrate the 4^th of July with food, fun, and fireworks.For pets that get frightened during the festivities, however, the holiday can be anything but a party.

Driven by a fearful reaction to fireworks and other loud sights and sounds, dogs and cats that flee from their homes often end up at Los Angeles Animal Services (LAAS). Between the six LAAS shelters, there is an approximate 44% increase in average daily intake from July 2 to July 6.

To maximize lifesaving during this critical time, Best Friends Animal Society is partnering with Los Angeles Animal Services to offer $10 adoption fees at eight locations city wide. 

·  $10 on the first 100 dogs & cats at Best Friends Pet Adoption Center, Mission Hills (July 1-4)

·  $10 on 100 select dogs & cats at NKLA Pet Adoption Center, West Los Angeles (July 1-4)

·  $10 on all dogs & cats from the six LAAS shelters (July 1-3; closed July 4)

o  South Los Angeles, Chesterfield Square

o  North Central

o  Harbor

o  West Los Angeles

o  East Valley

o  West Valley

 “Adopt during the 4^th of July holiday and you’ll be saving two lives, the one you take home and the one that now has space at the shelter,” said Marc Peralta, executive director of Best Friends Animal Society – Los Angeles. “Adoption is not only the most humane option to adding a pet to your family, it’s convenient and cost effective, too.”

There are hundreds of dogs, cats, kittens, and puppies available at the eight locations. Every pet is spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and ready for their new home immediately.

“This is the first year LAAS is partnering with Best Friends for #Freedom100 and we hope to break adoption records over the weekend,” said  Brenda Barnette, general manager of LAAS. “We encourage animal lovers across the city to declare this 4^th as Inde-Pet-Dence Day for LA’s shelter pets.”

To preview adoptable pets and find hours of operation/location information, visit www.bestfriendsla.org, www.nkla.org, and www.laanimalservices.com.

For those with dogs or cats already in the home, Best Friends Animal Society and LAAS offer the following tips to make the holiday as pet-safe as possible:

• Bring all pets indoors whenever neighborhood fireworks displays are likely. Secure dogs in a room and play music or turn on the television to drown out the frightening sounds.
• Keep pets away from lit fireworks at all times, including your own backyard, as some will chase after the bright moving objects and are at risk to be burned or blinded in the process.
• Ensure that pets are wearing current identification tags.
• For the ultimate identification protection, all pets should be microchipped so that they can scanned at an animal shelter or veterinary office.
• If your pet does go missing over the holiday, check with local animal shelters immediately. Go to the shelter in person to identify your pet, rather than calling or emailing the shelter, as staff may not be able to respond in a timely enough fashion to ensure your pet’s safety.