July 20, 2010

Multnomah County Animal Services (MCAS) will hold its 3rd annual Animal House Adoption party on Saturday, July 31. The Greek-themed party will feature games, prizes, live music and, of course, adorable, adoptable cats and dogs.

The party begins at 11 a.m. and runs until midnight at the MCAS shelter in Troutdale, at 1700 W. Columbia River Hwy. K103 DJs will entertain from 11 am to 1 pm and local bands, including the Burnside Stranglers and Empire Rocket Machine, will play live music from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. In between songs, wild party-goers can visit Brad Pitt(bull)’s sloppy kissing booth, enter the raffle or play with pets awaiting adoption.

Animal Services is donning togas and staying up ‘til midnight in hopes of adopting out at least 40 furry friends and raising funds to care for the shelter’s animals. The Troutdale shelter supports over 3,000 dogs and 5,000 cats each year, many of whom enter the shelter hungry, dehydrated, injured and in need of veterinary care.

Summer is Animal Services’ busiest season. Approximately 600 to 700 new cats arrive each month during the summer, pushing the shelter beyond capacity. This year the cattery is especially full—88 cats arrived during the 4th of July weekend alone.

During the party, adoption fees will be reduced to just $50 for kittens and $60 for dogs and puppies—half the normal fee for pooches. Best of all, MCAS has waived adoption fees for adult cats (over one year old) and dogs who have been in the shelter for over a month.

To bring home these fuzzy companions, adopters are asked to contribute only an optional donation and the current 1-year pet licensing fee, $8 for cats and $18 for dogs. Pet licensing fees will increase by 30 percent on August 1, but seasoned owners and new adopters alike can take advantage of the old rates before the clock strikes midnight at the Animal House Adoption Party on July 31.

All adoptable cats and dogs have been spayed or neutered, micro-chipped, licensed, given the necessary vaccinations and received recent veterinary check-ups. For more information, visit the Animal Services website.