Adopt a Pet at PetSmart in Texarkana on Saturday

You can adopt a pet at PetSmart on Saturday, Oct. 1. If you love to pet puppies or get a dog lick, Texarkana is the place to be between 10AM and 3PM to see all of the furry fluffies available for adoption. Many cats, dogs, puppies and kittens will be waiting for a pat on the head and hopefully loving arms to carry them home to a new family.

Adopting from a rescue is a great way to get the best match for your family. When you adopt a pet during the event on Saturday, you'll receive a coupon book to help with the initial costs of bringing a new pet home including free food.

Our local rescues pull these animals out and get them healthy and vetted before they put them up for adoption. Many of those kittens, puppies, adult dogs and cats will be available for adoption at this event. If you do not see what you are looking for, ask one of the rescues if they can direct you to the rescue that has that type of dog. .

All sizes and breeds will be available for adoption during this event--from cute little fluffy dogs to big dogs. The Texarkana Animal League along with several other rescues will be at this event with their foster dogs that are ready to be adopted into new homes.The process starts with an application to adopt. Adoption fees vary for each rescue.

You will be able to ask the rescues about the personalities of the dogs and find one that fits your family. Some of the rescues will let you try the dogs out in your home for a short period of time to make sure the transition goes smoothly. There are also volunteers in the cat room who can tell you about the cats' personalities and there is an area where you can sit and visit with the cats.

All of these animals are current on their vaccines and have been spayed or neutered; many are even microchipped. Occasionally, puppies have been vaccinated, but not yet spayed or neutered. In these cases, a sterilization agreement is required as part of the adoption contract.

Texarkana Animal League (TAL) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit run by a group of volunteers who are dedicated to improving the welfare of animals in our community.

For information about dogs that are available through local rescues, visit these Facebook pages or find them on Petfinder. Not all of these rescues will attend the adoption event but you can contact them to get information about their dogs: Little Paws Rescue, Passion for Pooches, Texarkana Animal League, Muttley Crew German Shepherd Rescue, ArkLaTex Cocker Spaniel Rescue and Boxer Rescue of Texarkana.

Please consider adoption before buying a puppy or kitten. Adoption fees and donations will help the rescues in the care of their rescued animals as well as Texarkana Animal League's community outreach programs such as a low-income spay/neuter assistance program, rescue assistance program and foster care program.

TAL's belief that all animals are deserving of life, respect and care. TAL provides the shelter's animals with all of the necessary vaccinations and medications from funds raised throughout the year. Their low Income spay/neuter assistance program has spayed and neutered more than 1,000 animals in the community in addition to hundreds of animals that found homes through TAL's foster care program. To learn more about TAL visit its website or call 1-877-525-4825.