The City of Burbank is looking forward to hosting one of its pet end-of-the-year projects, the Pet Adoption Center, known as "Home for the Holidays," beginning December 8. The Adoption Center will attempt to at least duplicate its last year success story of finding good homes for more than 130 orphaned animals.

The Pet Adoption Center, located in the Burbank Media City Center Mall, 201 N. Magnolia Boulevard, on the third floor near Macy’s department store, will welcome holiday shoppers every day through December 23 from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. This is the third consecutive year for a project that has received much acclaim and set off a chain of pet adoption interest in neighboring cities.

Last year’s event was unique in that every available cat, dog and rabbit from the Burbank Animal Shelter was adopted during the three holiday weeks. The demand for more dogs and cats had to be met in a hurry by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Los Angeles (SPCA LA), which trucked in more animals when the Burbank Animal Shelter was fresh out of pets. In their temporary mall home, the animals lounge around in whimsical settings, designed by Nickelodeon Animation.

A special guest appearance by Matthew Margolis, better known as "Uncle Matty," will take place on Saturday, December 15, from noon to 3:00 p.m. Uncle Matty, host of the PBS television series, Woof! It’s a Dog’s Life, a dog trainer and behavior expert, will demonstrate dog training techniques through a love, praise and affection system. Uncle Matty has trained the dogs of Renee Russo, Merv Griffin, Goldie Hawn, Drew Carey, Madonna, Elizabeth Taylor and many, many others. The City will give selected copies of Uncle Matty’s training videos and books to each adoptive family of a dog or puppy so that the new family member can start off on the right paw.

"Home for the Holidays" is staffed by City of Burbank employees, senior volunteers, members of local civic clubs and high school students who are earning community service credits. The non-profit center welcomes donations for the "Friends of the Burbank Animal Shelter." The City of Burbank, the City of Burbank Animal Shelter, Media City Center and Nickelodeon co-sponsor this event.

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