Nearly 1200 dogs and cats found homes through the Brandywine Valley SPCA’s Mega Adoption event this weekend in Harrington.
“That’s actually our biggest Mega Adoption event ever. This is our fifth one, and it broke a record by a lot,” said Linda Torelli, director of marketing at the BVSPCA.
She says this month’s event topped the previous record by roughly 50 animals.
The organization hosts these major adoption events in June and December, where adoption fees are significantly reduced.
Eleven cats and only one dog — named June Bug— were left after the event ended Sunday. Torelli says June Bug quickly gained attention on social media, and Tuesday the BVSPCA reported he was adopted.
Torelli says December is a good time to get animals out of shelters and into homes.
“Shelters become their fullest in the summer and into the fall during the warmer months. And it’s a good time of year to really help make space,” said Torelli.
She notes that around the holidays, families tend to have more time and more people around to introduce a new pet to the household.
Torelli says the SPCA does not worry about animals adopted at the December event being given as holiday gifts.
“There’s actually national data here in the US that pets given as gifts have equivalent if not higher retention rates than animals that are adopted directly by a family,” said Torelli.
Torelli adds that starting this Saturday, large adult dogs can be adopted from the Brandywine Valley SPCA with no adoption fee through end of the month.
She notes that the $25 adoption fee during Mega Adoption events falls far short of covering the organization’s costs of spaying or neutering, microchipping and caring for the animal. Support for the Mega Adoption events comes from Petco Foundation and Discover, but they are mainly funded by the BVSPCA’s operating budget.
