Everyday Adoption Centers free up space to save lives

Looking to add a new dog or cat to your family? Adoption is the way to go. The hard facts prove it.

But how do you start the search for your new forever friend? We have plenty of options for adoptions, including our state-of-the art Everyday Adoption Centers.

These centers pack a lot of amenities into their 2,500 square foot space, including:

-          Housing for adult dogs, puppies and small dogs

-          A separate cat adoption center

-          Play areas for dogs awaiting adoption

-          Meet-and-greet areas to get acquainted with adoptable pets

But, it’s also what you don’t see that make our EACs really special.

Behind the scenes: all about adoptable pets
The goal of the EAC program is to free up space at our partners’ main shelter location. This enables adoptable pets to await their new forever homes in a pet-friendly venue.

Here’s a behind the scenes look at our EAC facilities:

Ventilation – It is stressful for unfamiliar dogs and cats to be able to smell each other. So, each EAC is equipped with separate ventilation systems for the cat adoption center and the dog kennel. Problem solved.

Relief area – Our canine friends need special accommodations to “do their business.” The relief room includes special flooring that differentiates it from their kennel space. Puppies get a head start on potty training and adult dogs can maintain house-broken habits. The room is designed for easy sanitation with a flushable toilet and washable floors and walls.

Quiet room – Just like humans, dogs and cats need TLC when they aren’t feeling their best. That’s why we incorporated a special room where pets can await a quick trip back to their main facility to recuperate before adoption.

Maintenance/supply room – Our partners staff each adoption center, which houses approximately 40-50 dogs, cats, puppies and kittens. Through our generous sponsors and donors, PetSmart Charities maintains a well-stocked supply room with all the food, bowls, cleaning supplies and appliances the pets need for a happy stay.

Just the beginning
Every year about 8 million pets end up in shelters across North America. Unfortunately, 4 million pets are euthanized because they are not adopted–that’s 11,000 pets every day.

Our EACs are part of a nationwide initiative to save more homeless pets. Since May 2010, PetSmart Charities has helped save nearly 25,000 pets by opening similar adoption centers in Texas, Arizona, Delaware, Wisconsin, Colorado, Kentucky, Idaho, New Jersey and California. And that’s just one of our initiatives to save more homeless pets.

You can drop by your local EAC any time, including next weekend (Jan. 19-20), during our special adoption event.