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Meet Your Best Friend At The Detroit Zoo

ROAYL OAK (WWJ) - The Michigan Humane Society (MHS) and the Detroit Zoo will host the 19th annual spring "Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo" adoption event on Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak.

Hundreds of dogs, cats, puppies and kittens from MHS and more than 20 additional animal welfare groups will be available for immediate adoption at the largest off-site adoption event in the country.

There is no charge for admission or parking for the event, which will be held underneath tents, beside the water tower in the front parking lot.

"Since 1993, Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo has placed 17,000 animals into new loving homes," Mike Robbins, vice president of marketing and communications for MHS, said in a release. "We're proud to partner with the Detroit Zoo and the many animal adoption groups that are participating in this event."

Because puppies are often in high demand, "puppy passes" will be given each morning to the first 25 adoption event guests who are looking specifically to adopt a puppy. Those with puppy passes will be allowed to enter the adoption tents at 9:45 am. Doing so will prevent a "puppy rush" and ensure that all adopters – and the adoptable animals – will have a wonderful experience.

A get acquainted area will be available to give guests an opportunity to spend time with an animal before adopting. For health and safety reasons, please leave your current companion animals at home.

Last year, the fall Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo event found homes for nearly 500 animals. Since its inception in 1993, the event has helped 17,000 animals find new, loving families.

"Our community adoption events give pets in local communities the extra exposure they need to get the second chance they deserve," Susana Della Maddalena, vice president and executive director of PetSmart Charities, Inc., said in a release. "We are looking forward to partnering with the Michigan Humane Society to make the Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo adoption event a great success and a great opportunity to help even more homeless pets find lifelong, loving homes."

Adoption fees and policies are set by each participating adoption group and not by event sponsors. Animals will be adopted only to qualified homes. Adopters must present a driver's license or state ID card. All dogs and cats will have received a medical check-up and age-appropriate vaccinations.

The Detroit Zoo is located at 8450 W. 10 Mile Road in Royal Oak.

For more information, visit detroitzoo.org, michiganhumane.org or call 1-866-MHUMANE.

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