Californians will have the opportunity to adopt pets for free this Saturday during the state’s first-ever Adopt-a-Pet Day.
The event, organized by the California Animal Welfare Association (CalAnimals), the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, will feature 150 animal welfare sites across the state where potential pet owners can meet their new furry companions.
The initiative aims to find homes for 2,024 shelter pets.
“California shelters are facing enormous pressures due to overcrowding conditions, as the number of animals entering shelters is outpacing those leaving,” said CalAnimals CEO Jill Tucker. “By increasing adoption demand and encouraging pet-ready families to visit their local shelter first, we can make a change.”
Organizers note that recent years have seen a national increase in the number of shelter animals, attributed partly to a shortage of veterinarians, inflation, and a lack of pet-friendly housing options.
