PetSmart’s National Adoption Weekend Brings Dozens of Pets to White Flint Mall

It's National Adoption Weekend at from Nov. 12-14, and PetSmart hopes to find a lifelong, loving home for thousands of pets from various animal welfare groups.

"We are hoping to have 18,200 adoptions during this 3-day event," said Michelle Thompson, Communications Manager for PetSmart Charities, Inc. "When a customer enters a PetSmart store this weekend, they will see a larger amount of available pets that are up for adoption."

About 8 million dogs and cats enter animal shelters every year in the United States and about half of those are forced to be euthanized, according to Della Maddalena, executive director of PetSmart Charities, Inc.

 "Adoption is one very important way to reduce the number of pets who must be put down every year in our nation's shelters," Maddalena said in an Oct. 11 press release by PetSmart Charities. "This adoption event helps give those pets even more exposure to people who love pets so they can get the second chances they deserve."

PetSmart Charities is the largest funder of animal welfare efforts in North America. All 1,164 stores throughout the country are participating in this event, and that includes the White Flint Mall location.

Donny Dashiell, the operations manager at the White Flint location, said that the best day to attend the event in Kensington is Saturday because that is when the most pets will be available for adoption brought by local groups like the Dawg Rescue, Inc., located in Bethesda, and the Montgomery County Humane Society.

"They usually bring a lot of nice dogs and cats for adoption," said Dashiell.

The event also coincides with a 3-day sale event for Veterans Day. So many items in the store will be available for lower prices than usual, he said.

In fiscal year 2009, PetSmart found more than 400,000 pets homes, according to the PetSmart press release.

The event at PetSmart, featuring dozens of dogs and cats from local animal welfare groups, will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.