LAKEPORT, Calif. – Next week Lake County Animal Care and Control is planning one of its special adoption events, which will give community members a chance to bring home a new friend at a discount or get pets microchipped at lower cost.

Director Bill Davidson said the adoption event will take place from Monday, April 4, through Saturday, April 9, at the shelter, located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport.

The adoption events are held up to four times a year. The Board of Supervisors approved hosting the special adoption efforts – with lower costs – in 2012.

Davidson said during the event the county's portion of the adoption fee – $30 for dogs and $20 for cats – will be waived.

In addition, the shelter is waiving its $20 microchip fee for pets being adopted, thanks to still having microchips left over that were given to it by its supplier during last year's Valley fire.

Also, for those not adopting pets but wanting to get a microchip for their dog or cat, the shelter will offer that service for $10, rather than $20, Davidson said.

He said special emphasis is being placed on microchipping pets next week because of its importance in reuniting animals with their people.

Case in point: This week, a dog lost during the Valley fire last year turned up in Lakeport and was reunited with its family thanks to a microchip, Davidson said.

The shelter is filled with a large variety of dogs in many breeds and sizes. Among them are a few litters of puppies, according to Davidson.

Animals that are adopted will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, licensed and given a heartworm test if it's appropriate for their age.

Cat adoption fees – including spaying/neutering, vaccinations and microchipping – normally are $106 for females and $96 for males. With the discounts on the adoption fee and microchips, those costs should range from $66 for females to $56 for males.

For dogs, the overall adoption costs for females – normally ranging from $161 to $176, depending on weight – will be $111 to $126, while adoption of male dogs, normally totaling $151, will be reduced to around $101.

Visit Lake County Animal Care and Control online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm , call 707-263-0278 or drop by the shelter at 4949 Helbush Drive in Lakeport during kennel hours, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.