Hundreds of Los Angeles residents stepped away from their weekend routines to give shelter dogs a taste of freedom. Over the course of Saturday and Sunday, volunteers partnered with Los Angeles Animal Services (LAAS) and the local branch of Best Friends Animal Society (BFAS) to escort nearly 400 dogs from six city shelters into the wider community.
Community effort brings joy to dogs and volunteers
“Seeing a lobby full of people who took time out of their weekend to come get a shelter dog out just for a couple of hours is amazing,” said Brittany Thorn, Executive Director of Best Friends Animal Society in Los Angeles. “It’s really incredible. We knew Angelenos really cared about animals, but today was proof.”
The event, dubbed “Adventures Buddies Day,” was captured on video as dogs eagerly hopped into volunteers’ cars, wagged their tails, and explored nearby parks and neighborhoods. One volunteer, Steven Szydio, was paired with a bull terrier named Chico. The footage showed Chico trotting confidently on a patch of grass, pausing for a quick lick of water before resuming his adventure.
Adoptions and foster placements boost shelter outcomes
According to BFAS, the day’s activities led to 23 dogs finding permanent homes and 37 dogs being placed into foster care. Those numbers represent a meaningful step toward reducing overcrowding in LA’s municipal shelters, which routinely house thousands of animals awaiting permanent families.
Volunteers reported that the experience was rewarding for both the dogs and the participants. “I was so excited to meet Chico and get him out of the shelter, see the world, and make new friends,” Szydio said. “It felt good to know I helped a dog get a fresh start.”
How the partnership works
LAAS coordinated with BFAS to identify dogs that were healthy enough for a short outing and matched them with volunteers who signed up through an online portal. The collaboration highlights how city agencies and nonprofit organizations can join forces to address community needs without requiring additional taxpayer funding.
Best Friends Animal Society, a national nonprofit dedicated to ending animal homelessness, operates the Los Angeles branch as a hub for volunteer recruitment, dog‑matching, and post‑event follow‑up. Their involvement ensures that each dog receives a safe, supervised experience while exposing the public to the benefits of adoption and fostering.
Looking ahead
Both LAAS and BFAS hope to make the day‑out model a recurring event, expanding to more neighborhoods and potentially incorporating other animal‑related activities such as pet‑care workshops and responsible‑ownership seminars. By keeping the community engaged, the partnership aims to sustain a pipeline of adoptions and foster placements that will ultimately lower shelter intake numbers.
For residents interested in volunteering for future events or learning more about how to adopt or foster a dog, information is available on the Best Friends Animal Society Los Angeles website.
Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.
