We are excited to announce that the ASPCA is granting nearly $1 million to Los Angeles Animal Services and the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care & Control to facilitate life-saving adoptions of homeless pets in L.A.

A portion of the funds will waive cat adoption fees for qualified adopters. This includes cats over four months of age in Los Angeles’ six city animal shelters, as well as all cats and kittens in the six county animal shelters.

The grant will also cover “make-ready” fees typically incurred by qualified rescue groups when they retrieve cats, kittens, pit bull type dogs and Chihuahuas from city and county shelters. These animals are most at-risk in the Los Angeles area, and this funding will improve their chances of finding safe and loving homes.

“Despite the best efforts of city and county shelters and rescue groups, the situation for cats in Los Angeles remains dire—over half of the cats who enter city and county shelters never come out,” said ASPCA President & CEO Matt Bershadker. “ASPCA research has shown that waiving cat adoption fees drives new and responsible prospective owners to shelters, dramatically impacting the lives of thousands of shelter cats whose futures are endangered.”

The funding, which will provide $520,000 to the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care & Control and $400,000 to the City of Los Angeles Animal Services, will go into effect immediately. While fees will be waived, all adoption policies and procedures remain in effect, including existing criteria for potential adopters.

This grant program is part of the ASPCA’s overall commitment to save the lives of animals in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. We can’t wait to hear the success stories that will result from this exciting new endeavor.

For more information on adopting from Los Angeles Animal Services, visit: http://www.laanimalservices.com.

For more information on adopting from the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care & Control, visit: http://animalcare.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/acc.