This event is prelude to “The Fall 5,000” adoption campaign aiming at finding homes for 5,000 shelter animals in November.

The South L.A. Animal Shelter, one of the participating shelters, now accommodates 150 to 200 animals, mostly cats and dogs, leaving no room for new animals coming in.

“There are a record number of animals, but not enough adopters,” said DeShawn Diaz, the volunteer liaison of the shelter.  

Shelters that provide animal care and control for cities are required by law to take in every animal arriving on their doorstep. However, as the shelters become overcrowded, they are forced to euthanize some of the animals.

Statistics from the South L.A. Animal Shelter show 1,005 animals were adopted and 701 cats and dogs were euthanized in October.

“It’s not something that we love to do, but something we’re trying to find a way to help animals into homes,” Diaz said.

She said they would consider the aggressiveness, the health condition and how long the animals have been staying in the shelter before euthanization.

Thousands of unwanted stray or lost animals end up at animal care and control shelters every year.

During the adoption event in South L.A. Animal Shelter, some brought in stray dogs and cats. A girl named Emely Rizera found a kitten in the alley around her house two days before. She said she couldn’t keep it because she had too many pets. She adopted her dog Ivy from the shelter two months ago.

The animal shelters and rescuers throughout Los Angeles County adopted more than 72,000 companion animals to the public in 2010, which is nearly 200 cats and dogs per day. Nearly 250 companion animals were euthanized per day, according to the Los Angeles Animal Alliance. 

Reach Gracie here.