BURBANK — Granada Hills resident Bob Kalaba found a new best friend in a Labrador mix named Iggy, whom he adopted Saturday at the Burbank Animal Shelter.
Iggy playfully ran to Kalaba, tail wagging.
Kalaba and his family were the first group to adopt an adult dog at the shelter's Annual Summer Adoption Fair that runs until Thursday.
"I wanted to adopt one that was going to be euthanized if nobody took the dog," he said. "That to me is so sad."
Iggy's previous owner turned her over to the shelter because she was "not a good camping dog, so just go ahead and put her to sleep," Kalaba was told.
"We took her because she is a sweet dog, and as long as she likes to go for walks — that's all I want," he said.
Kalaba's children and wife researched and visited various shelters before settling on Burbank.
Adopting a pet Saturday also allowed some owners to take advantage of the Volunteers of the Burbank Animal Shelter's offer to pay 50% of adoption fees for all pets.
If an owner decided to adopt a second pet, the organization offered to pay the entire fee.
"That, to me, was a pretty good idea," Kabala said. "I wouldn't say that tipped the scales, but it is certainly nice."
The organization pays out about $3,000 to $4,000 during the annual adoption, said Molly Stretten, interim kitten foster program manager.
Potential owners began lining up about 9 a.m. for a round inside the shelter.
Officials said summer is the busiest adoption season of the year.
That morning, the shelter received a new litter of seven puppies, all of which were quickly snatched up.
"Most people who come here already know they are going to adopt," said Cecelia Martinez, the organization's kitty foster placement coordinator.
About 96 kittens were available for foster care, which require parents to provide care, food and shelter until the pets are ready for adoption.
"We are looking for someone who could provide a good home for our kittens," Martinez said.