Animal Welfare League of Arlington Launches a Match.com Program for Pets

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington is hosting a “Meet Your Match” Adopt-A-Thon this Saturday, Nov. 15 from 12 noon-4 p.m. at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. The League will offer half-price adoptions on all animals and same-day adoptions to approved adopters (rental permission will be required). The event will also include free pet 101 educational sessions, kids crafts and food.

AWLA announced Thursday it is implementing the Meet Your Match Feline-ality Adoption Program, a program of the ASPCA®, designed to pair shelter cats with adopters’ preferences and lifestyle, according to a news release from AWLA. The program—which includes a Feline-ality behavior assessment of each cat and a brief survey of each adopter—results in a color-coded matchmaking guide indicating compatible feline companions.

“The idea is like Match.com for people and pets,” said Kevin Simpson, director of Behavior and Adoptions, AWLA. “There are so many cats to choose from at the League, but through this program we are able to create a profile for each cat and then categorize them by colors that define their personality and characteristics. Based on the adopter survey results, the adopter receives a corresponding color, which makes it easy for them to identify which cats would be suitable for them and their household.”

Cats are color-coded green, orange or purple:

• A cat with a green color-code is classified as a “Party Animal, “MVP” or “Leader of the Band.” Green cats are savvy, unflappable and adventurous.
• A cat with an orange color-code makes a great companion kitty and would be called a “Sidekick,” “Executive” or “Personal Assistant.”
• A cat with a purple color-code is one that seeks affection, is quiet and stays out of trouble. It could be called a “Secret Admirer,” “Love Bug” or “Private Investigator.”

“Each year AWLA receives approximately 900 cats with an average length of stay of 35 days,” said Simpson. “We are hopeful that this program will reduce the length of stay for our shelter cats and increase well-matched adopter satisfaction.”

To learn more about the Meet Your Match Feline-ality Adoption Program or to view adoptable cats and other shelter animals visit www.awla.org, download the free Arlington Pets App or visit the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, 2650 S. Arlington Mill Drive, Arlington.

PHOTO: Kolohe is currently at the shelter waiting to be adopted; photo courtesy of AWLA