Los Angeles Animal Services’ six shelters have more than 1,400 dogs, 1,300 cats and 400 pocket pets including rabbits, hamsters and Guinea pigs. As the shelters near capacity, the city needs the community’s help to find new homes for the pets.

To encourage adoptions of dogs and cats and to kick off October as Adopt A Shelter Dog Month, L.A. Animal Services will offer reduced adoption fees on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2. Adoption fees for dogs are $51, and $75 for puppies. Adoption fees for cats and kittens will be waived thanks to a grant from the ASPCA.

“As an open intake shelter, we take in all animals who come in through our doors, but we are running out of space,” said Annette Ramirez, L.A. Animal Services interim general manager.

“We desperately need the community’s help to foster or adopt a pet as the numbers of animals being brought into our shelters are being outpaced by the number of pets we are able to place into homes.”

Dogs and cats adopted from L.A. Animal Services join their new families already spayed or neutered, vaccinated, licensed and microchipped, and adopters receive a VCA Healthy Start Certificate, which provides up to $250 of follow up veterinary care within the first 14 days of adoption. Canine companions adopted from L.A. Animal Services are also eligible for free dog training classes at the Paws for Life K9 Rescue People and Pet Innovation Center in Mission Hills.

For information, visit pawsforlifek9.org.