FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LA Animal Services Media Contacts: 
Agnes Sibal-von Debschitz, (213) 482-9512 or agnes.sibal@lacity.org
Justin Khosrowabadi, (213) 482-9551 or justin.khosrowabadi@lacity.org

Petco Love Media Contact:
Lisa Lane Cardin, media@petcolove.org
LA Animal Services Participates in Petco Love’s National ‘Read and Share Your Love’ Event, Inspiring Children to Read to Shelter Pets
Children to read Tony and Emmy award winning actress and performer Kristin Chenoweth’s new book “What Will I Do with My Love Today” to shelter pets during national event on April 23 and April 24
Los Angeles, April 22, 2022 In advance of National Kids and Pets Day, nonprofit Petco Love is rallying kids across the country together to share their love with shelter pets, reading Kristin Chenoweth’s inspiring book “What Will I Do with My Love Today?” LA Animal Services joins Petco Love, Tony and Emmy award winning actress and performer Chenoweth, and 50 animal welfare organizations across the nation for this “Read & Share Your Love” event, hosting little animal lovers at the East Valley Animal Services Center on Saturday, April 23, and Sunday, April 24, from 11am to 2pm, to read to pets in our Centers, and enjoy some arts and crafts by making toys for cats, rabbits, and hamsters. The events empower children to practice their reading skills and put their love into action, increasing public awareness of saving pet lives through adoption, kindness and volunteering.

Chenoweth’s new tale, perfect for children ages four to eight, celebrates the power of kindness and pet adoption. The inspiring book highlights the ‘made for each other’ adoption of Chenoweth’s rescue dog, Thunder. A vocal advocate for pet adoption, her message that "extra love in your heart and your home is waiting for someone who’s all alone” aligns perfectly with Petco Love's goal to harness the power of love to propel pet adoption into the national spotlight. The book advocates, “adoption means family, and family’s forever.”

“LA Animal Services is proud to participate in this national effort to encourage children to read and share their love with our pets,” commented Annette Ramirez, Interim General Manager for LA Animal Services. “We have many ‘good listeners’ here who are ready to be adopted!”

In addition to pet adoption, the theme of Chenoweth’s first picture book is helping others in your community. In keeping with that theme, the book from Tommy Nelson, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, was donated to 50 participating animal welfare organizations by Petco Love and the publisher. Studies show that reading books to dogs and cats in the shelter helps calm and socialize pets and increase their chances of adoption. It is also proven to help children gain confidence reading out loud as animals are non-judgmental listeners.

Susanne Kogut, President of Petco Love, offered “Seeing the relationship between a child and a pet is magical, it’s pure love. I hope Kristin’s message “What Will I Do With My Love Today?” inspires children and families to put their love into action for pets in need nationwide. Bringing pets and children together will make the world a better place as pets are a positive influence on a child’s physical, social, emotional and cognitive development. 3 It’s a mutually beneficial, unconditional friendship.”

The East Valley Animal Services Center, located at 14409 Vanowen St, Van Nuys, CA 91405 will be hosting the “Read and Share Your Love” event on Saturday, April 23 (arts and crafts/read to pets), and Sunday April 24 (read to pets), from 11am to 2pm. Parents and children interested in attending are requested to RSVP (RSVP is not mandatory to attend). If they cannot attend, parents can join the fun by sharing their child's own stories about ‘what they did with their love to help pets’ on social media via hashtag #LoveToday. Petco Love will also be giving away autographed copies of Chenoweth’s book on Instagram via @PetcoLove April 21st-26th in celebration of National Kids and Pets Day.
To learn more about LA Animal Services, visit laanimalservices.com.
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LA Animal Services promotes and protects the health, safety, and welfare of animals and the people who love them, and is one of the largest municipal shelter systems in the United States. With six Centers across the City, LA Animal Services serves approximately 60,000 animals annually and responds to 20,000 emergency calls involving animals or people in danger. LA Animal Services is part of the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) international coalition, joining 38 municipal shelters and animal welfare organizations across the country to reimagine and transform the way shelters care for animals and their families, by offering access to resources to help keep families together; getting lost pets home quickly without having to enter the shelter system; providing food and medical assistance; and continuing to build on a strong adoption and foster program so pets find their permanent homes or are placed in foster care. Visit our link.tree for helpful links to the services and resources available to you and your companion animals. Connect with LA Animal Services and follow us on FacebookTwitterInstagram.

Petco Love is a nonprofit changing lives by making communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since our founding in 1999 as the Petco Foundation, we’ve empowered animal welfare organizations by investing nearly $300 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. We’ve helped find loving homes for more than 6.5 million pets in partnership with Petco and organizations nationwide. Today, our love for pets drives us to lead with innovation, creating tools animal lovers need to reunite lost pets, and lead with passion, inspiring and mobilizing communities and our more than 4,000 animal welfare partners to drive lifesaving change alongside us. Is love calling you? Join us. Visit petcolove.org to be part of the lifesaving work we’re leading every day.
LA Animal Services | 888-452-7381 | LAAnimalServices.com