Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) reached record numbers for pet adoption rates in 2022, placing more animals into homes than ever before, the City announced in a press release Wednesday. In the past year almost 2,000 animals were placed in their forever homes.
LBACS saw a 194% increase since 2018 of pet placements, and a 83.58% increase since 2022. The facility has already surpassed its goal of 1,500 adoptions that was set in the 2024 Long Beach Strategic Plan.
“The emphasis we’ve placed on community engagement and offsite adoption events over the past year has proven to be a successful strategy to get more animals into homes, thanks to our Animal Care Services staff and residents,” said Mayor Rex Richardson in a statement from the City. “We will build on this achievement so even more animals can be adopted.”
Animal Care Services works under a Compassion Saves model that emphasizes community outreach, education, guidance and support services rather than euthanization. The facility also hired a Foster Coordinator, Behavior and Enrichment Coordinator and two Volunteer Adoption Coordinators.
Community events have been introduced in the past year to raise donations and receive supplies for animals at the shelter, such as the inaugural Howl-O-Ween event and the Happy Howliday Series, which together resulted in over 200 donated items.
LBACS also held over 40 offsite adoption events in 2022, resulting in 60 adoptions. Throughout the year there were a total of 1,901 adoptions through the shelter and 500 animals placed into foster homes.
LBACS is open for adoptions Wednesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information about adoptions, residents can email PetAdopt@longbeach.gov or call 562.570.7387.
