This email has been copy/pasted to update you on information being provided by Los Angeles County's "Love at First Sight" (LFS) adoption program. Only 51% of appointments showing up and people with no appointments still being turned away.
LETTER BEGINS BELOW....
DACC began LFS on August 1, 2021. We have been closely monitoring the outcomes of this program and our appointment-based system. In the first 18 days, we have seen a 51% no-show rate for people who had made their appointments. We have used those vacancies to accommodate walk-ins (we accommodate them whenever staffing and scheduling allows), and 18% of these walk-in adopters have adopted. However, we feel that the no-show rate is too high and are making modifications to the program to reduce this percentage. One possible cause is that for our busier ACCs of Carson/Gardena, Downey, and Baldwin Park, appointments were in such high demand that they were being scheduled about a week out. It is possible that by that time, the adopters have changed their mind for found a pet elsewhere. The ACCs at Agoura, Castaic, Lancaster, and Palmdale all were able schedule appointments the next day.
Beginning Monday, DACC will double the number of appointment slots for the public to determine if that will increase the attendance rate, and make appointments available more quickly. We have also added the ability for people to schedule same day appointments (prior it was a minimum of eight hours before the appointment). We have also changed the ability to cancel an appointment from two hours to one hour. We have an automatic reminder system that operates as follows:
• Once an appointment is made, a confirmation email is sent.
• The party receives another email 48 hrs. prior to the appointment.
• The party then receives a reminder email and text 24 hours before their appointment. At any point, the party can cancel.
• One last email is sent one hour before the appointment.
We anticipate that these changes will reduce the waiting time to get appointments at our busier ACCs and reduce the no-show percentage. We will closely monitor the impact of these changes and continue to make any changes necessary to ensure an effective adoption program.
For Adoption Partners, please continue to email your contact at the Animal Care Center to schedule a time to come to pick up animals. As a reminder, Ready to Go Home animals will be available for 24 hours to the public, after that, Adoption Partners are welcomed to pull the animal first-come, first-served. Exceptions are Rescue Only animals, special pleas, medical cases, or any animal that we reach out to you for assistance.
Please reach out if you have any questions or need additional information.
Sincerely,
Allison Cardona
she/her/hers
Deputy Director
County of Los Angeles
Department of Animal Care and Control
5898 Cherry Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90805
562-706-1659
acardona@animalcare.lacounty.gov