Meet Your New Best Friend at Adoptapalooza

PET ADOPTION FAIR ON SEPTEMBER 7^TH IN UNION SQUARE PARK

More than 300 Loving Dogs, Cats & Bunnies Available for Adoption; Low-cost microchipping & dog licensing also on site

On Sunday, September 7, from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m., Manhattan’s Union Square Park will be transformed into Pet Adoption Central when the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals, in partnership with the Petco Foundation, present Adoptapalooza.

The Alliance is a non-profit private charity that partners with more than 150 local animal rescue groups and shelters to offer important programs and services that help save the lives of thousands of homeless animals in the city and help find them loving “forever” homes.

This year’s Adoptapalooza brings together dozens of rescue groups and shelters that will feature more than 300 dogs, cats and rabbits – all available for adoption.

Alliance president, Jane Hoffman, said, “The goal of Adoptapalooza is to find homes for these wonderful animals, and also to remind New Yorkers how critically important it is to adopt from shelters and rescue groups.”

One of last year’s adopters was Colleen Farrell from the Upper West Side.  Adoptapalooza brought her together with Stu – a small Maltese mix dog, desperately in need of a forever home. Six weeks earlier, Stu had been taken in and cared for by Anarchy Animal Rescue (an Alliance Participating Organization), after he had been found by Animal Care & Control of NYC (AC&C) starved, sick, matted and filthy, in an abandoned house in Queens.

Ms. Farrell said, “Stu’s story broke my heart so I gave him a chance.  One year later, he’s doubled in weight, is a bundle of energy, loves everyone, and is ridiculously cute and fluffy.  This spring he even graduated from his first training class!  Stu’s the perfect guy for me.  He’s a wonder dog.  Thank you to the Alliance and its partners for the work they do to save guys like Stu.”

Adoptapalooza is a family-friendly event offering face painting and fun temporary tattoos for children; a special performance by Norman, the scooter and bicycle riding Natural Balance Scooter Dog; and free photos of you and your pet, sponsored by the Alliance, Petco Foundation and Rover.com.

A special emergency preparedness clinic will offer low-cost ($25) microchipping for cats and dogs; dog licensing for only $8.50 ($34 for animals that have not been spayed/neutered); free pet ID tags, and information about how pet owners can prepare for emergencies.

Throughout the afternoon, pet food giveaways and Petco training sessions for dogs will also take place. Rock and Rawhide, a non-profit organization that distributes donated supplies to shelters and rescue groups, will collect clean blankets, sheets and pet toys for shelter animals.

To learn more about the Alliance and how you can help New York City’s homeless animals, visit www.AnimalAllianceNYC.org.

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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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Colleen A. Roche

Principal, Managing Director

LAK Public Relations, Inc.

212-329-1413