More than 800 dogs, cats in Delaware find new homes
Animal lovers withstood miles of traffic, long lines, blistering heat and sporadic rainfall Saturday to participate in Brandywine Valley SPCA's adoption event.
Linda Torelli, director of marketing and programs with the West Chester, Pennsylvania-based animal welfare organization, said the turnout exceeded expectations. The organization will work to improve wait times and parking, she said. However, she was grateful so many people stayed and adopted animals in need of a home.
Torelli said 857 animals were adopted Saturday, almost topping last year's total on the first day of the weekend event. The inaugural SPCA adoption event in December sent 886 animals home.
Dogs and cats, big and small, barked and meowed at Bellevue State Park near Wilmington as onlookers searched for a new furry friend to join their family.
Christina Andrews attended the tri-state area's largest adoption event and chose a small kitten for her newly adopted daughter, Charlotte. The 10-week-old cat, which her daughter plans to name Stella, was an early birthday gift.
“We’re a foster and adoptive family, so it’s really important to us to give children and animals a home,” Andrews said.
Jessica Mauro traveled from Emmaus, a borough in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, to find the “perfect fit,” to bring home. Like many who traveled to the event, she was not discouraged by the wait or a large number of animals being adopted.
“Even if we waited in line for hours, and we get there and there are no dogs, ultimately that’s a good thing because animals found a home,” Mauro said.
Once inside, Mauro did find that “perfect fit,” not only walking away with a dog but also “supporting a good cause.”
Tendai Teixeira, 25, of Philadelphia had contemplated adopting a dog in the past. When she heard about the mega adoption event, she decided it was time. Teixeira along with her 9-year-old niece Kahlia, adopted a male Jack Russell terrier.
“We got a cute dog, and we love it,” Teixeira said.
Ed Healy and his 14-year-old granddaughter traveled from southern Chester County to adopt. Healy’s granddaughter already has a dog along with a pet rat, a gecko, rabbits and cats, but she wanted to give her aging lab mix a companion.
Healy anticipated he would encounter a high volume of traffic so he planned to arrive a little before 10 a.m., but didn't reach the parking lot until about 12:15 p.m.
"That last mile took us about two hours,” Healy joked.
While the 57-year-old said it took him and his granddaughter about four more hours to get inside to view the animals, the smile on his granddaughter’s face when she found the dog she wanted was well worth the wait.
“She’s happy,” he said. “She’s all that matters.”
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The adoption process is a two-step process. First, volunteers speak with potential adopters about their living situation and what animal they’re looking for. Then the animals are brought out of the cage where adopters can meet their new housemates face to face.
This approach to adopting from a no-kill shelter is called open adoption, which Torelli said focuses on understanding the animal, its personality and its behavior and making sure it’s a match with the adopters.
Torelli said there is no documentation that shows doing background checks do anything but clog up a shelter system where pets die.
“Judging people based on some pre-fixed criteria is not the way to go about making a good adoption match.”
More animals will arrive Sunday morning. She recommends those interested in adopting to arrive early. Applications can also be filled online at www.megaadopt.com.
BACKGROUND:Hundreds of cats, dogs airlifted to Delaware for adoption
Contact Alonzo Small at (302) 324-2856 or asmall@delawareonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @P_AlonzoSmall.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Mega Adoption Event
WHERE: Bellevue State Park near Wilmington on June 18, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free, and the adoption fee is $20.