Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) is asking residents to shelter animals without homes through the Fourth of July during Foster the 4th.
During this time of year, many dogs become distressed and run away from home due to the intense booms and brightness of fireworks on and around the Fourth of July. LBACS attempts to house lost pets, but often has to stretch its resources and push past full capacity to shelter them all in kennels.
LBACS is currently in the midst of shelter overcrowding and it has become an annual tradition to invite the local community to adopt or foster pets during this overwhelming period.
“I encourage all residents to consider temporarily fostering a shelter animal during the busy Independence Day season,” said Mayor Rex Richardson in a public statement. “Fostering allows Long Beach Animal Care Services to provide more spaces for animals displaced due to the effects of illegal fireworks and to get them reunited with their families.”
LBACS will be hosting an event aimed at providing additional information about Foster the 4th and offering the chance to meet the animals available to foster and adopt. This event will be held Tuesday, July 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 7700 E. Spring St. with attendance by appointment only; appointments can be scheduled by emailing petfoster@longbeach.gov.
Anyone interested in partaking in Foster the 4th must complete the following:
- Complete and submit a Foster Application online.
- Commit to fostering a pet for a minimum of 30 days or longer.
- Keep the foster pet separate from personal pets in order to prevent diseases and ensure pet safety.
- Communicate regularly with the Foster Coordinator and/or LBACS staff with updates and pictures.
Those selected as temporary fosters will be supplied with food, bowls, a bed and additional resources to take care of their pets as well as veterinary care and foster guides.
“One of our main priorities is to ensure that people and pets stay together,” said Melanie Wagner, Long Beach Animal Care Services bureau manager in a public statement. “Pets separated from their families can be devastating for everyone involved. It can happen at any time, but especially during firework season. I encourage people to prepare their pets now by getting microchips, having current tags and also familiarizing themselves with the other pets in their community. Often, an animal’s best chance of getting reunited is by the people in our own neighborhoods.”
Visit longbeach.gov/acs/events/fourth-of-july/ to learn more about Foster the 4th. For more information about the outreach services and community programs offered by LBACS, check out longbeach.gov/acs.
