Maria Menounos, Allison Janney Help Launch Friends Of L.A. Animal Shelters Presented By K9s Only

Maria Menounos

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Pet ownership, and particularly dog ownership, is a rich and rewarding part of modern life that provides companionship, entertainment, and an excellent way to assure potential mates that you can care for living things without incident. Unfortunately, not everybody is actually capable of fulfilling their end of this arrangement, and thus thousands of abandoned and stray animals end up in shelters every year.

Luckily for these wayward puppies, there are people in high places who care, and many of these celebrities, politicians and private citizens were on hand at West L.A.'s K9s Only last night for the launch party of Friends of L.A. Animal Shelters, a new organization dedicated to raising awareness of and distributing funds to the LA-area shelters that need it most.

It seems that LA's neediest animals had some friends in high places, as last night's gala opening featured stars such as Jamie Kennedy, Allison Janney and Nikki DeLoach, all of whom sit on the FLAAS committee, as well as local movers and shakers like Mayor V and Councilman Dennis P. Zine. Guests sampled Leblon Cachaca cocktails, met a variety of friendly shelter dogs available for adoption, and bid on items in a silent auction, with the proceeds all going directly to animals in need. In the centerpiece of the evening, "Extra" co-host Maria Menounos was honored for her "outstanding  contributions to Los Angeles animals."

Being a shelter animal is not an easy life. But thanks to the hard work and genuine love of those who gathered yesterday, it may now be a little bit easier.

Carmen Trutanich, Bobby Dorafshar, Maria Menounos, Allison Janney

Nikki DeLoach

Charli Eaton, Bobby Dorafshar, Allison Janney