A ‘pawsitively’ Super Dog Adoption Day

Posted

This Sunday, there will be a staggering 350 puppies and dogs all in one place as part of the Super Dog Adoption Day.

From 12 to 4 p.m., the non-profit Always Adopt will host the event at Balise Toyota of Warwick. They’ve partnered with 20 local animal shelters and rescues to bring the dogs together for one big event. The idea is to give the dogs the exposure they need to find homes.

The non-profit’s founder and “top dog,” Louise Anderson Nicolosi, is a dedicated animal lover. She owns the Rhode Island Pet Rehab in Charlestown and is a certified canine rehab practitioner as well. She was inspired to found Always Adopt after learning about kill shelters, places where dogs are euthanized if they cannot be adopted soon enough.

While this event doesn’t work with any kill shelters, the south is infamous for them. Many high kill shelters operate there, and because of this, Anderson Nicolosi said, “rescues up here partner with those in the south. They rescue them and bring them back to health in Rhode Island.”

At the Super Dog Adoption Day, Anderson Nicolosi said, “what we’re trying to do is find the right fit. We’re trying to find good people to adopt these dogs.”

In order to find the right fit, there’s an application process. General applications are available online at www.alwaysadopt.com/applications/, and Anderson Nicolosi encourages potential adopters to apply before the event.

This is because pre-screened applicants get, in her words, “pick of the pups.” They also get exclusive early entry: 10 a.m. for the first 200 people and then 11 a.m. for the next 200-plus.

There will be paper applications the day of, but the goal here is to ease the process.

Throughout the event, 10 dog trainers will help families, offering tips for success at home. Veterinarians will be on staff as well.

Personal dogs are welcome to come meet potential adopted dogs, but they must remain outside of the event area. There will be a special section for meet and greets, but Anderson Nicolosi stressed, “Make sure you have someone to wait with them. They can’t wait in the car.”

Rain or shine, the event will happen, in large part because of Balise’s sponsorship. The partnership between the two organizations is mutually beneficial.

“They charge us no money. They do everything for us that they can. They move all of their cars,” Anderson Nicolosi said.

As for Balise, “They’ve very community spirited. Their clients love it,” she continued. “All year long, people ask when is the next event. All of their customers are just thrilled.”

Anderson Nicolosi estimates that about 20 percent of the adopters are actually Balise clients. It’s a win-win for both parties.

Always Adopt may have a short history with animal adoption, but it is an active one. They host two super-sized pet adoption events every year, and in three years they’ve helped place over 1,700 dogs.

The next Super Dog Adoption Day will be November 5 at Clark Farms in Matunuck.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here