Arkansas Animal Shelters to Host Free Pet Adoption This Weekend

BENTONVILLE, Ark. – The Best Friends Rescue Center (BFLC) has teamed up with over 550 animal shelters and rescue partners nationwide for an adoption drive. This campaign aims to encourage people to adopt pets from local shelters.

Eight Arkansas shelters and the Best Friends Lifesaving Center will participate in the campaign this weekend, July 22-24.

Fees will be waived at the BFLC this weekend for all pets. Pets will be repaired, vaccinated or microchipped and ready to go home.

Here is a list of local animal shelters that will be participating:

• Best Friends Rescue Center: 210 Prairie Lane, Bentonville
• Cabot Animal Support Services, 2951 S 1st St., Cabot
• Columbia County Humane Society, Inc., 510 Columbia Street West, Magnolia
• Cats Global Community, Jacksonville
• Fort Smith Wildlife Sanctuary, Fort Smith
• Friends of Kitties & Kanines, Fort Smith
• Shelter For Animal Paws And Claws, 2075 Madison 6555, Huntsville
• Pit Ridge Rescue, 921 Rader Rogers Road
• Shoal Bay Animal Refuge, 392 N Highway 197

According to data published by Best Friends, U.S. shelters saw an 8.1% increase in animal intakes that pet adoptions couldn’t keep up with in 2021.

Shelters continue to fill up this summer, exceeding capacity.

“Following the huge success of our National Adoption Weekend in May, which saved 4,529 lives, we were looking forward to having a second National Adoption Weekend as soon as possible,” said Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society. “The summer months, and July in particular, are one of the highest admission months for animal shelters in America, so we really encourage anyone looking for a pet to adopt now.”

Best Friends cite many benefits of adopting a pet, including:

• One-stop-shop (adoption): Most pets you adopt from a shelter will be vaccinated, microchipped and sterilized, saving you time and money if you don’t have to do it yourself , like when you buy a pet.
• YOU GAIN A LIFETIME PARTNER IN YOUR PET’S LIFE: Animal shelters and humane organizations care about your new family member and will be there to support you throughout the pet’s life with useful resources and information.
• You save at least two lives: when you adopt, you save the life of the animal you adopt and open up a place in a shelter or sanctuary for a new animal that needs a forever home.

Best Friends says there are far more pets at risk of being killed in shelters right now than at this time last year. This is due to recent issues such as understaffing, limited shelter hours, fewer volunteers, and fewer adoption events.

“The sad truth is that there is an ongoing shelter crisis and when shelters are overcrowded and pets are not adopted quickly enough, lives are at stake,” Castle added. “If you are unable to commit to adopting, ask your local shelter or rescue if you can adopt a pet instead. This will always have a huge impact in saving lives.

For more information or to find a local shelter, click here.

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