Everybody knows about the “dog days” of summer, but there’s another animal event that happens when the temperatures start to rise – “kitten season,” when thousands of newborn kittens will join the numerous cats already in shelters across the country.

To help place these kittens (and cats) into forever homes, the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control will partner with Found Animals Foundation (www.foundanimals.org) to adopt out as many cats and kittens as possible.  Some of those adoptable furry friends will be available at our local animal shelter in Castaic.

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The County and Found Animals Foundation are kicking off “kitten season” this Saturday, when they will join other animal care agencies to facilitate a record-breaking number of adoptions.

“The Cat Days of Summer,” sponsored by Found Animals, will simultaneously occur at 16 different locations throughout Los Angeles County.  The event begins at 10 a.m. and will end at 5 p.m.  Although this event is focused primarily on cats, all animal adoption fees will be reduced this day only.

The promotion does not end on the 18th. This event only marks the kick-off of the ongoing summer promotion, where an adopter can adopt one cat and Found Animals will pay for the adoption of another, “buddy” cat, in hopes that even more cats will find forever homes after the event.

Los Angeles County shelters participating in the event, along with the Castaic Shelter at 31044 N. Charlie Canyon Road, include:

Downey Animal Shelter- 11258 S. Garfield Ave., Downey 90242

Carson Animal Shelter- 216 W. Victoria St., Gardena, 90248

Baldwin Park Animal Shelter- 4275 N. Elton St., Baldwin Park, 91706

Lancaster Animal Shelter- 5210 W. Avenue I, Lancaster 93536

Agoura Animal Shelter- 29525 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills, 91301

In addition, the Antelope Valley Pet Stop, at 42116 4th Street East in Lancaster, will participate, even though that location only houses dogs immediately available for adoption, ready to take home that day.

Each location has a wonderful selection of animals just waiting for a new home. For an advanced peek at the animals, and to get more information on animal control and care, visit the website, http://animalcare.lacounty.gov/. You can also visit their Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/CountyofLosAngelesAnimalCare, for event updates and day-of-event festivity photos.