More than 5,600 Animals Adopted from Shelters Nationwide During ASPCA’s 2013 ‘Mega Match-a-thon’ Weekend

NEW YORK—The ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today announced that animal welfare groups in 36 communities across the country found homes for 5,685 animals during the ASPCA’s 2013 ‘Mega Match-a-thon’ weekend from October 18-20. The ASPCA granted nearly $300,000 to support large-scale adoption events nationwide in an effort to give thousands of shelter animals a second chance at a new life.

“Adopting over 5,600 animals is a huge achievement for a single weekend,” said ASPCA President & CEO Matt Bershadker. “The success of these shelters illustrates the enormous impact we have on animals when we’re dedicated, innovative and inspired to connect with our communities. Every life saved is a victory.”

Here are some of the highlights from the weekend:

• In Sacramento, 507 cats, dogs, kittens and puppies, along with 19 other animals, found new homes--a whopping 334 percent increase over the same weekend in 2012, during which 121 animals were adopted. Participating organizations included the City of Sacramento Animal Care Services, Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary, Sacramento County Animal Care and Regulation, and the Sacramento SPCA.
• Shelters like KC Pet Project in Kansas City, Mo. and Greater Androscoggin Humane Society in Lewiston, Maine were left with countless empty kennels after their events, during which they found homes for 228 and 272 animals, respectively. And each of those empty kennels represents a new animal who can be rescued and adopted. 
• Volunteers young and old chipped in to support their local shelters, including two little girls who donated their lemonade stand proceeds to Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League in West Palm Beach, Fla., and a 98-year-old volunteer who helped No Kill Columbia in Mo. make bandanas for their adoptable animals.
• New York’s Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester, didn’t just find homes for 128 cats and five dogs, but also for one rabbit, one guinea pig and a hamster, too.
• A 13-week-old kitten made the journey from an overcrowded shelter in Ga. to Fort Collins Cat Rescue & Spay Neuter Clinic in Colorado, where a loving family adopted him during the group’s event.
• Completely smashing its goal of 100 adoptions for the weekend, Nebraska Humane Society found homes for 226 cats and dogs in just one day.

For more information about the ASPCA’s Mega Match-a-thon events, please visit www.aspca.org.