Long Beach, CA ~ Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) is gearing up for their annual Foster the Fourth initiative, encouraging members of the community to open their homes to shelter pets during one of the busiest times of the year. This effort aims to educate the community on pet safety and reunification tips, while emphasizing the importance of fostering during a time when runaway pets are at an all-time high.

Mayor Rex Richardson expressed his support for this initiative, stating that fostering not only helps animals feel safe and supported during a stressful time, but also frees up much-needed space in the kennels for incoming lost pets. He encourages community members to directly contribute to local animal welfare by participating in Foster the Fourth.

To kick off this initiative, LBACS will be hosting a special event on Thursday, June 18 at their location on 7700 E. Spring St. The event will feature extended hours until 7 p.m. and concierge-style matchmaking to help potential foster families meet and select the right foster dog for them. Partners such as Blockhead Brigade, K9 Kismet, and Zoom Room will also be present to provide valuable resources for fostering. Foster families will be provided with food, veterinary care, and comfort supplies.

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The Fourth of July is known to be one of the busiest times of the year for shelters like LBACS. The sudden bright flashes and loud noises from fireworks can cause animals to panic and run away from home, resulting in unsafe conditions for both animals and drivers. This influx of lost animals also puts a strain on resources and limited kennel spaces at LBACS. That's why short-term fostering during this season is crucial.

Melanie Wagner, Bureau Manager at LBACS, explains that their focus is on keeping families and pets together by preparing the community before fireworks begin and encouraging neighbors to hold onto found strays so they can be reunited with their families quickly.

To keep pets safe at home during this time of increased fireworks activity, LBACS recommends keeping them indoors in a quiet and secure room, creating a calming environment with music or white noise, ensuring microchips and ID tags are up to date, and making sure pets have a current license.

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In the event that a lost pet is found, LBACS encourages residents to keep the pet safely with them for at least 48 hours. Most lost pets tend to stay close to home, so keeping them in the neighborhood increases the chances of a quicker reunion. If unable to keep the pet temporarily, LBACS can provide supplies such as food, crates, and beds while efforts are made to reunite them with their families.

LBACS will be open on July 4 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., despite traditionally being closed on this day. This is to provide support for lost-pet reunification and assistance with found strays.

For more information on Foster the Fourth or to view lost and found pets, visit longbeach.gov/acs or call 562.570.7387. LBACS also offers low-cost microchip clinics for those in need of microchipping their pets and licensing services through DocuPet.

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