Los Angeles county animal shelters were immediately closed indefinitely following an announcement by LA Mayor Eric Garcetti on Monday, March 16th.

According to a press release from LA County Animal Care & Control, "During this closure, the health and safety of the animals in our care remains our top priority. Please know that during this time, no animals will be euthanized unless they are irremediably suffering, dangerous, or unable to eat without assistance."

In Bakersfield, Kern County Animal Services went about things differently. They announced via social media a plea for emergency foster homes and started a drive-thru pickup event in which shelter workers bring dogs and cats, along with food and crates, directly to citizens who drive up in their cars outside the shelter.

The director of Kern County Animal Services, Nick Cullen, said, "We rely on the public to adopt. When we don't have that avenue we're left with no option to get animals out of the shelter. It's not healthy to have an animal sit in a cage for 30 days."

Right now, residents of Los Angeles county, along with the entire state of California, are being told to stay at home. We're isolated, lonely, and seeking companionship. Social media is bursting with posts in which people are asking, "I want to foster a dog right now. Can anyone help?"

To the mayor of Los Angeles, to the mayors of surrounding cities, to anyone with some say in our local governments: PLEASE streamline the process of fostering pets and DO IT NOW.

The animals have always needed us, and right now, we need them too.