NYC’s Original Mega Pet Adoption Fair Presented by the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals and Petco Foundation
Sunday, May 31, 2015 – New York, NY – Manhattan’s Union Square Park was transformed today into New York City’s pet adoption capital as the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals (the Alliance), in partnership with the Petco Foundation, hosted Adoptapalooza, NYC’s Original Mega Pet Adoption Event, where animal lovers had the opportunity to adopt hundreds of cats, dogs, and rabbits.
The Alliance is a private, non-profit private charity that partners with more than 150 local animal rescue groups and animal shelters to offer important programs and services that help save the lives of New York City’s homeless animals. Since 2003, when the Alliance was founded, the dedicated efforts of these groups, including Animal Care & Control of NYC, have the saved the lives of more than 250,000 cats and dogs.
Today, at Adoptapalooza, dozens of rescue groups and animal shelters had on hand more than 300 pets available for adoption.
Jane Hoffman, President of the Alliance, said, “The goal of Adoptapalooza is not only to find homes for these deserving animals, but also to raise awareness of why it’s so important to adopt pets from rescue groups or animal shelters in New York City.”
Hoffman stressed four good reasons for adopting a family pet from a shelter or rescue group, instead of purchasing from a pet store or irresponsible breeder:
- Shelters and rescue groups know their animals’ personalities and are great at matching pets with prospective owners.
- Adopting a pet from a shelter or rescue group avoids supporting puppy mills, which breed animals under cruel and deplorable conditions.
- Shelters and rescue groups offer a wide variety of breeds and mixes, including pure breeds.
- Rescue pets have already been spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and many have been microchipped; and adoption fees generally are considerably lower than fees charged by pet stores and breeders.
Today at Adoptapalooza, a special clinic offered low-cost microchipping for cats and dogs; the NYC Department of Health was on hand to issue dog licenses; and NYC Emergency Management/Ready New York provided important information to help pet owners prepare for emergencies.
Adoptapalooza provided fun for the whole family, including face-painting, caricature portraits, photos of pets and their owners, and pet food giveaways.
Rock & Rawhide, a non-profit organization that provides distraction therapy with toys, blankets, and other comforting items to help increase adoptions, again this year collected pet toys and clean linens for the animals at Animal Care & Control of NYC and other shelters.
Hoffman extended her gratitude to the Petco Foundation, vendor sponsors, volunteers, community members, and others, including today’s adopters, who made Adoptapalooza a great success.
About the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals®
The Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals® is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity that works with more than 150 partner rescue groups and shelters to offer important programs and services that save the lives of NYC’s homeless animals. We are supported entirely by donations from foundations, corporations, and individuals and receive no government funding. Since our founding in 2003, we have remained committed to transforming New York City into a no-kill community by 2015, meaning that no dogs or cats of reasonable health and temperament will be killed merely because they do not have homes. www.AnimalAllianceNYC.org
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Phone: (646) 229-8471
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