If you have been contemplating adding a furry friend to your family, this weekend might be the perfect opportunity for you to do just that.

The Lafayette Animal Shelter and Care Center (LASCC) and Best Friends Animal Society (BFAS), a national animal welfare organization, are teaming up to offer free pet adoptions this weekend.

On Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23, shelters in Lafayette, St. Martin and Vermilion Parishes will be participating.

BFAS is reimbursing shelters up to $50 for every cat and $100 for every dog.

Part of the reason for this free adoption weekend is that the summer months are the highest intake months for local shelters and also when pet adoptions decrease. Kennels are full at all three of the participating shelters.

"In my conversations with shelters in our area and across the country, we've discussed the why. In 2020 when many people worked from home, rates of adoption and fostering animals were high which decreased in 2021. This year, remote work has declined even more," said LASCC Supervisor Shelley Delahoussaye.

Here is a list of the participating shelters, their location, and adoption times:

Lafayette Animal Control and Care Center
410 Dugas Road
Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

St. Martin Parish Animal Services. St. Martinville
1104 Industrial Park Dr.
St. Martinville, LA 70582
337-364-1220
Friday and Saturday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Animal Aid Vermilion Area
11303 Pioneer Rd., Kaplan
337-643-3160
By appointment only on Friday
Email: Animalaidvermilion@gmail.com
In-person hours on Saturday: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Now, if you are not ready to commit to adoption, you can still foster a cat or dog to provide the pet a temporary home and relieve area shelters.

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