League Plans Non-Stop Adoption Marathon

August 03, 2011

This coming weekend, the Washington Animal Rescue League (the League) will hold a 33-hour, non-stop adoption marathon to find homes for as many of the 120 dogs and cats in their shelter as they can.  This weekend only, adopters may set their own adoption fee, which are regularly $150-250 for dogs and $50-100 for cats.

The Home Sweet Home Adopt-A-Thon begins at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 6, and runs through the night and next day, ending at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 7.  Adopters should bring a government ID and a collar and leash (for dogs) or carrier (for cats), though these can also be purchased at the League.

The Home Sweet Home Adopt-A-Thon kicks off a 3-month push to increase adoptions at the League as part of its participation in the American SPCA’s $100K Challenge.  Fifty animal shelters across the nation are vying for the prize, which will be awarded to the group that places the maximum number of cats and dogs in responsible homes.

The adopt-a-thon also coincides with the busiest time of year for animal shelters, when homeless pets—both stray and surrendered—fill shelters to capacity. The majority of animals at the League are transferred from local animal control facilities, which request the League’s help when they can no longer house all of the animals they are taking in.  This summer, many of these shelters have been operating at capacity for months, and the League has been making weekly trips to pick up animals, both in the metropolitan Washington area and as far away as West Virginia.

“Every animal adopted this weekend will leave a space for another homeless pet who is in desperate need of a chance at finding a permanent home,” according to League COO Mary Jarvis. “We’re full of wonderful dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens for adoption, and we know there are a lot more out there waiting for their turn.  So we’re appealing to the entire community to open their hearts and their homes to these deserving animals.  At the same time, we are dropping our adoption fees and staying open around the clock to make it easier for people to save a life.”

Animals at the League include Dimples, a 4-month-old Pomeranian puppy who was transferred to the League from another shelter to have an injured leg repaired and Fresno, a year-old male cat who gets long wonderfully with children, other cats, and even dogs. The shelter has cats of all ages and colors and dogs ranging from Chihuahuas to Labrador retrievers.

Entirely re-designed in 2006, the League houses dogs in modern and comfortable glass and Corian dens, while cats enjoy an indoor playground for exercise and meeting adopters. “We are not the traditional shelter,” Jarvis points out. “We’ve replaced all the concrete and chain link cages with animal-friendly housing. The League really is an upbeat and welcoming place, both for animals and adopters.”