Low-cost vaccinations and free microchips offered during Be Kind to Animals Week

          Be Kind to Animals Week® is May 3rd through 9th this year. The American Humane Association created Be Kind to Animals Week® in 1915 to celebrate the unique bond between humans and animals.  Be Kind to Animals Week® promotes kindness to all animals and encourages adults and children to honor the companionship, friendship, and love animals bring into our lives.

“It is a week to honor our furry, feathered, finned, and scaly friends” stated County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC) Deputy Director, Michelle Roache’.  Individuals can show their kindness in many ways: provide a home for a homeless pet, volunteer or donate to your local animal shelter, encourage someone to spay or neuter their pet, help reunite a lost pet with its owner, thank an animal shelter employee for saving animals’ lives, or report an act of animal cruelty or neglect to your local animal shelter.

DACC is celebrating Be Kind to Animals Week® by encouraging individuals to raise their awareness of animal cruelty and neglect issues in their community. “The Department’s Major Case Unit (MCU) is a group of specialized Animal Control Officers who serve to protect the victims of animal cruelty and have the expertise necessary to convict offenders within the County of Los Angeles.  If you suspect animal cruelty in your neighborhood, please report it to your local animal shelter for immediate referral to the Major Case Unit,” Roache’ said.

To help promote Be Kind to Animals Week® (as well encourage
 life-long kindness to animals), DACC is providing numerous low-cost vaccination and free microchip clinics for dogs (locations throughout Los Angeles County) beginning May 2^nd and continuing into the summer months.  Rabies vaccinations are $6, DHLPP vaccines are $14, Bordetella vaccines are $11, and microchips are free. Opportunities to purchase (or renew) dog licenses will also be available. Please visit our website at http://animalcare.lacounty.gov to view the 2009 clinic schedule and find a clinic near you. 

Be Kind to Animals Week is a great time to support our nation’s animal welfare organizations and to encourage everyone to get involved to make a difference for animals. The County of Los Angeles urges you to contact your local animal shelter to find out about volunteer opportunities and other ways to show compassion and kindness to the County’s homeless animals. Celebrate the wonderful work being done by the Nation's humane societies, animal rescue organizations, and animal shelter employees and volunteers.

 

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