This show’s for the dogs (and cats)

Veteran Alexander Trotto and his black Lab Teka are one of the success stories in "Shelter Me," coming to PBS.

The PBS documentary Shelter Me shows how both people and animals can benefit from pet adoption. A benefit screening on Thursday, June 14, aims to keep the success stories coming by raising funds for the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care & Control and Los Angeles Animal Services.

The family-friendly documentary is hosted by actress Katherine Heigl, a longtime animal lover and advocate. It examines how shelter pets help returning war veterans cope with post-traumatic stress disorder, follows two stray dogs from the streets into new homes and explores a dog training program at a women’s prison that helps inmates and people with disabilities.

All proceeds from the showing will be split evenly between the two organizations, which together handle 140,000 cats and dogs a year. Some pet adoption scenes from Shelter Me were filmed locally at the county’s Baldwin Park Animal Care Center.

The Baldwin Park location is one of 6 county centers, where animals can be adopted; before going to their new homes, they receive a free veterinary checkup, low-cost spaying or neutering and initial vaccinations. Also, owners can bring in pets for reduced-price vaccinations and free “microchipping” to make it easier to reunite missing animals with their families.

The benefit showing takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 14, at the Laemmle Monica theater in Santa Monica. Tickets are $20, and additional donations are welcome.

If you miss the benefit but still want to watch the documentary, it airs on PBS SoCal on Tuesday, June 19, at 7 p.m.

Posted 6/11/12