NBC4 Southern California and Telemundo 52 announced they are teaming up with nearly 50 animal shelters in more than 400 cities and regions throughout the five counties they serve on a first-of-its-kind pet adoption initiative – Clear the Shelters – on Saturday, August 15. Part of a national initiative spearheaded by the NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations, Clear the Shelters connects Southern Californians with local animal shelters to find new homes for homeless pets.
“I’m proud that our stations are working with so many local animal shelters throughout the Southland to help rescue thousands of animals,” said NBC4 President and General Manager Steve Carlston. “This is an exciting initiative to support an important community cause and mobilize millions of people to adopt a pet from their neighborhood shelter.”
“This initiative simplifies the pet adoption process and offers our community an opportunity to welcome a new addition to the family,” said Telemundo 52 Los Angeles President and General Manager Celia Chavez. “I encourage everyone to join us in this day of action to help ‘Clear the Shelters’ and give thousands of homeless animals the chance of a new life.”
On this national day of action, participating animal shelters in Southern California will offer a reduced adoption fee of $20, and open their doors from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Local sponsor VCA Animal Hospitals will have their expert veterinarians and healthcare teams on-site, and all pets adopted during the event will receive a limited health guarantee and a gift bag filled with pet essentials.
NBC4 and Telemundo 52, along with several anchors and reporters, will visit select shelters to celebrate with those who adopt, including a red carpet for adoptive parents and their pets, photo opportunities and a live stream atwww.NBCLA.com.
The public is encouraged to begin posting photos with their pets on social media using the hashtag #CleartheShelters and #DesocuparAlbergues. Photos will begin posting on photo galleries at www.NBCLA.com and www.Telemundo52.combeginning the week of July 20 through August 15.
Additionally, a special hosted by Natalie Morales, news anchor and co-host of NBC News’ TODAY Show, will air on Saturday, August 22. The Telemundo stations will also air the special with co-hosts Elva Saray, host of Telemundo 52 Los Angeles daily entertainment show, Acceso Total and Jessica Carrillo, host and reporter for Telemundo network’s Al Rojo Vivo (check local listings). A special, “Life Connected: Animal Tales,” highlighting local pet-related stories, will also air on NBC4 on August 8.
The Clear the Shelters effort will take place in 19 markets across the United States and Puerto Rico. On Saturday, August 15, 11 NBC-owned stations, 17 Telemundo-owned stations, the NBCUniversal-owned regional news network necn and more than 300 local animal shelters across the country will match up thousands of homeless pets with new homes. This initiative marks the first time that the NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations have joined forces on an initiative like Clear the Shelters.
Clear the Shelters was initiated last year in the Dallas-Fort Worth market as a partnership between NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth and Telemundo 39 Dallas-Fort Worth and dozens of animal shelters. The day resulted in the adoption of more than 2,200 homeless animals, the most adopted in one day in North Texas.
