'Friends' needed to adopt pets

It was mayhem Friday, a veritable cacophony of barking and whining, as hundreds of dogs vied for attention in hopes of finding a home. Inside an adjacent building, cats and kittens carried out their own campaign, pawing playfully at passers-by, all in name of adoption — the 2009 Spring Pet Super Adoption.

The adoption event, sponsored by No More Homeless Pets in Utah, began Friday and continues today, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the parking lot of PetSmart, 389 W. 1830 South.

"There are a lot of awesome dogs here," said Deseret Rousseau, who brought along her miniature schnauzer as she searched for a second dog to adopt. "I highly recommend people come and find a friend."

With 700 cats and dogs up for adoption at this year's event, organizers are hoping there are plenty of potential "friends" for everyone. Organizers are encouraging people who already have a dog to do the same thing as Rousseau, and bring along their existing dog to help pick the new one.

"Come on down and we'll help you find a perfect fit," said Holly Sizemore, event organizer. "We have a get-acquainted area so you can spend some time getting to know the animal."

The cost for adoption is $75 for cats and $95-150 for dogs. All fees include spaying or neutering and a set of vaccinations.

Organizers are hoping for good weather during the event because the weather usually plays a big part in the success of the event, or lack thereof. This year, since the cats are housed indoors and people can escape the rain as needed, they are hoping people will come out even if the weather looks bad.

"Even if it's raining we'll be here; the animals will be here," Sizemore said. "We hope people will come on down."

The theme for this year's event is "adopt for life," and organizers are hoping to make every adoption successful long-term.

"It's helpful if people spend a few minutes beforehand learning about what it takes to care for a kitten or a puppy versus an adult animal so they know which might be the best fit for their family," Sizemore said.

Those who are unable to provide a permanent home for a pet can still help by fostering an animal until a long-term home can be found. Sizemore said those interested in fostering an animal should inquire at the adoption event.

E-mail: kkuhn@desnews.com