Dog and cat adopt-a-thon seeks to find forever homes for pets in Mississauga

Mississauga is stepping up efforts this week to get more dogs and cats out of city shelters and into permanent homes.

Mississauga Animal Services is hosting an adopt-a-thon Monday through Saturday, making pets available for adoption at a significant fee reduction in hopes of finding “forever homes” for the four-legged companions.

“The community is invited to help find loving, permanent homes for the shelter’s long-term residents,” City of Mississauga officials said in a news release. “To encourage adoption, the shelter is offering a 50 per cent discount on adoption fees during this event.”

Animal Services officials say they’re committed to reducing the number of dogs and cats awaiting adoption. Some of the animals have been waiting for more than a year.

Shelter officials added the week-long adopt-a-thon is “an opportunity to make a profound difference in an animal’s life by welcoming a new, loving member into your family.”

The city is encouraging individuals and families looking for a pet to drop by the shelter this week and bring one home. No appointment is needed.

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The Mississauga Animal Services shelter is located at 735 Central Pkwy. W. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.

In August, Animal Services officials made efforts to get several dogs who’d been at the shelter for more than a year adopted into good homes.

It was part of an ongoing effort to keep the shelter population down and encourage people looking for pets to go the adoption route instead of finding dogs and cats elsewhere.

Officials say there are many benefits to adopting animals from the shelter.

“The shelter provides comprehensive health and wellness checks for each animal to ensure successful adoptions,” they said.

Those benefits include spaying/neutering, initial vaccinations (rabies not included), microchipping and deworming. The adoptions also include the purchase of a first-year pet licence, with the fees going back into the shelter.

Those looking to adopt a pet must be at least 18 years of age and all family/household members must be reachable by phone at the time of adoption.

While appointments are not required, there may be brief waits to meet the animals, officials noted.

For more information, visit the city’s website or contact Mississauga Animal Services.