BLACKSBURG, Va., March 29, 2005 – The third annual Family Pet Adoption Day is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 23, at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine (VMRCVM) on Virginia Tech's campus
The Family Pet Adoption Day is intended to facilitate pet adoptions and raise awareness of concerns related to overpopulation of animals. Dogs and cats that are in the custody and care of area shelters and adoption programs will be on site and available for adoptions. Pound Pals of Radford, Floyd County Humane Society, VA PAWS, Dalmatian Rescue of Southwest Virginia, Angels of Assisi, Boxer K9 Rescue of Southwest Virginia, Sheltie Rescue of Northern Virginia, Siberian Husky Assist, and several other organizations will participate in the Family Pet Adoption Day.
All of the animals that are up for adoption will be spayed or neutered, be immunized against infectious diseases, and be free of obvious abnormalities at the time of examination. VMRCVM students will perform complete physical examinations on all of the animals under the guidance of VMRCVM faculty.
The students will administer adoption questionnaires to potential owners and make recommendations to the participating organizations about the suitability of prospective matches. The event coordinators will be responsible for checking references and conducting home visits prior to placing the animal. The animals will not be allowed to go home with their new owners on the day of the event and there also will be an adoption fee for all animals.
The VMRCVM’s Center for Animal Human Relationships (CENTAUR), the Omega Tau Sigma Service Fraternity (OTS), the Virginia Partnership for Animal Welfare and Support (VA PAWS), and several local animal welfare organizations are working together to sponsor the adoption program.
For more information on the Family Pet Adoption day, contact Lila Borge Wills, President of VA PAWS, by phone at (540) 231-8996 or by e-mail at lborge@vt.edu.