MINNEAPOLIS — To help get animals home for the holidays, Minneapolis Animal Care & Control held a free pet adoption event on Friday, Dec. 9.
Employee Madison Weissenborn said the event is held a couple of times each year, with the latest announced Wednesday this week. During "Clear the Shelter," all adoption fees are waived except the cost of pet licensing. Most people who show up leave with a pet the same day.
"Everybody will be fully vaccinated, microchipped, spayed or neutered and just ready for their forever home," Weissenborn said.
This time around there were 22 dogs and eight cats available for adoption.
"That's a lot of dogs for us," Weissenborn said. "Typically, anywhere from five to 10 on the adoption floor."
A five hour event, MACC also collected pet and human food to help those in need. For anyone interested in adopting later, cats and dogs typically cost $50 each plus licensing for Minneapolis residents. Nonresidents pay $100 for cats and $250 for dogs.
All animals were adopted out on a first-come, first-served basis.
ACC says it screened applications from all prospective pet owners before deciding whether or not to approve an adoption. To read more about the city's pet adoption requirements, click here.
While welcoming home a pet during the holidays could bring you and your family lots of cheer, it's important to consider the pros and cons of adding a new member to your pack. The ASPCA recommends thinking about your lifestyle, the space you live in and how much time you spend at home before adopting a pet. For people looking to adopt dogs, it's also a good idea to research different breeds and their needs.
Watch more local news:
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities in our YouTube playlist: