PetSmart is holding its National Adoption Weekend from May 17 to May 19 across all stores in Canada and pet care expert at PetSmart charities says it might be the perfect time to do so.
Stores across Canada will have cats, dogs, kittens, puppies, rabbits, guinea pigs and more looking to be adopted.
Senior Manager of Veterinary Outreach at PetSmart Charities Amanda Landis-Hanna says this Victoria Day long weekend offers the extra time needed for both the pet owner and the pet to settle.
"While an extra day at home may not seem like a lot, that additional time together can be very beneficial for both pets and their newly adoptive families," says Landis-Hanna in a news release.
"Adopting a pet over a long weekend gives you the opportunity to build a special bond with your new pet, right at the start. It will also give your new pet a buffer as they transition between life in a shelter and life in their new loving home."
Guelph’s location on 183 Silvercreek Pkwy N will be hosting the event throughout the long weekend during its usual hours.
The event will have raffles, bake sales, hand made items for sale made by volunteers and a craft table for kids to make toys for pets.
“We want to be able to make sure that people can talk to us and their kids are being occupied at the same time doing something fun,” says volunteer at the Toronto cat rescue Julie Haley
The store is collaborating a program with Toronto Cat Rescue for a little over a year to facilitate the adoption process for cats.
With their Adoptathons, the Toronto Cat rescue is able to connect potential adopters directs with store associates who can speak directly to the person in charge of the Kitchener, Cambridge and Guelph cat rescue.
By getting screened that way, the store gets notified if the cat has been approved for adoption and the person can come to pick up their new pet.
“On the Adoptathon weekend what happens is we have volunteers that are trained as screeners and we’re on site so we can talk to people right away and the cats go to appropriate homes right away,” says Haley.
Haley says the store has seen tremendous success in just over a year with 196 adoptions just out of the Guelph location alone.
She says the partnership with PetSmart allows them to find homes for cats without waiting for space to get into stores.
It’s been amazing partnering up with pet smart here in Guelph because we have been able to get those pets adopted.
Landis-Hanna offered three tips for potential adopters. Firstly, pets might feel overwhelmed in their new home in new surroundings so space of their own will help them adjust. Secondly, ease into the socialization with the pet because they are just getting to know you. Lastly, give them lots of love so they feel safe and happy in their new home.
"Having a pet is one of the best ways to experience the magic of the human-animal bond," says Landis-Hanna.
"Research is showing there are many way animals benefit humans and vice versa. We look forward to bringing more people and pets together during our upcoming National Adoption Weekend."
