Adopt a Pet at the Detroit Zoo

ROYAL OAK (CBS Detroit) – If you or someone you know is looking to adopt a pet, then look no further than the Detroit Zoo.

The Detroit Zoo and Michigan Humane Society, in collaboration with more than 20 local animal welfare organizations, are hosting the 21st annual spring Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo.

It happens 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, May 17, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 18.  At this event, hundreds of dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens will be available for adoption.

Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo will take place outdoors under tents in the Zoo's front parking lot beneath the landmark water tower.  This event is presented by Purina One, supported by PetSmart Charities and is free of charge.  However, regular admission and parking fees apply for everyone visiting the zoo.

Since puppies are usually in high demand, "puppy passes" will be given  to the first 25 adoption event guests on Saturday morning who are looking to adopt a puppy. The "puppy passes" will allow those to enter the adoption tents at 9:45 a.m.

Adoption fees and policies are set by each participating group. In order to adopt, guests must have a valid driver's license or state ID card.  All animals will have received a medical checkup and age-appropriate vaccinations and there will be a "get-acquainted" area that will give adopters an opportunity to spend time with an animal before adopting. All current companion animals should be left at home for safety and health reasons.

Last year, the Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo event found homes for 431 animals. Since the event's rise in 1993, more than 18,000 dogs, cats, and rabbits have been placed into new homes at the spring and fall events.

The Detroit Zoological Society is a nonprofit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo. Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic habitats, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of 10 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak.

The Detroit Zoo is open 362 days a year, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through Labor Day (with extended hours until 8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the day after Labor Day through October and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March. Admission is $14 for adults 15 to 61, $12 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $9 for children 2 to 14 (children under 2 are free).

For more information, call 248-541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org.