06/09/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/09/2025 16:29
City of Long Beach Public Information Office411 W. Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802https://www.longbeach.gov
Long Beach, CA - Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) invites the community to participate in Foster the 4th, an initiative focused on providing safe homes for shelter animals during the Fourth of July holiday period.
"By opening our homes to a shelter animal, even for a short time, we help reduce overcrowding and give lost pets a better chance of finding their way back home," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "We encourage all residents to help make a difference for our displaced animals during the busy Independence Day season."
Every Independence Day, LBACS sees an influx of dogs entering the shelter who have run away from home due to fear of fireworks. The sudden bright flashes and loud noises can cause animals to panic and run onto roadways, resulting in unsafe conditions for both animals and drivers alike. The volume of lost animals results in strained resources and limited kennel spaces at the shelter. Currently, LBACS is over capacity and encourages the public to foster or adopt ahead of the Fourth of July holiday to ensure their safety, wellbeing and space available at the shelter.
Foster the 4th kicks off Friday, June 20 with a special adoption and fostering event where attendees will receive information and resources and meet adoptable animals available for fostering. The event will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. at the LBACS Adoption Garden (7700 E. Spring St.). Staff will be onsite to conduct meet and greets to matchmake community members with a temporary house guest. Partners such as K9 Kismet, Blockhead Brigade and Zoom Room will be in attendance to provide valuable fostering resources.
Additional Foster the 4th opportunities will take place at LBACS from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24 and Tuesday, July 1 by appointment only. Those interested can email PetFoster@longbeach.gov to schedule an appointment.
To become a short-term foster, the following are required:
Selected fosters will be provided veterinary care and go home with supplies for four weeks including food, toys, bowls and a crate. For more information on the Foster the 4th event, please visit the LBACS Fourth of July webpage.
"LBACS wants to ensure that people and pets stay together," said Melanie Wagner, Long Beach Animal Care Services Bureau Manager. "Pets separated from their families can be devastating 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. "
Animal Safety
Every Fourth of July, animal shelters experience a spike of incoming dogs due to pets escaping their homes in fear of fireworks. To help support our fury friends, consider the following:
Long Beach Animal Care Services ensures "Compassion Saves" by supporting the people and animals of the community through outreach, education, guidance and support services, and protects shelter animals by creating an environment of care through enrichment and innovative programs. For more information on services and programs provided, visit longbeach.gov/acs.
About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.
For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. More information about Long Beach Animal Care Services is available at longbeach.gov/acs and on social at @LBAnimalCare on Instagram and Facebook.
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