By Patricia Janeway
(Royal Oak, MI ) The Detroit Zoo in collaboration with more than 20 local shelters and animal welfare organizations, hosted the annual fall Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo this past fall. The event is the nation’s largest off-site companion animal adoption program.
The weekend's event was held outdoors under tents in the Detroit Zoo’s front parking lot beneath the landmark water tower. There is no charge for admission or parking for adoption event guests; however, regular admission and parking fees as always apply for those visiting the Zoo.
Hundreds of adoptable dogs, cats, puppies and kittens were available for immediate adoption to loving homes both days. A “get-acquainted” area will be available to provide guests an opportunity to spend time with an animal before adopting. Adoption fees and policies are set by each participating group. Adopters must present a valid driver’s license or state ID card. All animals will have received a medical check-up and age-appropriate vaccinations. For health and safety reasons, all current companion animals should be left at home.
Last year, the fall Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo event found homes for 648 animals. Since the event’s inception in 1993, nearly 14,000 dogs, cats and rabbits have been placed into new homes at the spring and fall events.
The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo. Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is in Royal Oak. Visit www.detroitzoo.org. The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open year-round and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks. Admission is free. To view Detroit Zoo's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to: http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-472-Detroit_Zoo
