To celebrate our 15th annual Adoption Weekend, this year we’re hosting our biggest adoption event yet, covering adoption fees in 15 U.S. cities including Nashville, Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix and more.
About Adoption Weekend 2023
The 2023 Mars Pet Adoption Weekend runs from Friday, September 29, through Sunday, October 1.
Mars and its family of Petcare brands including ROYAL CANIN® and Camp Bow Wow® will cover up to $100,000 in cat and dog adoption fees at partner shelter locations in across the U.S. to help drive adoptions and further our global ambition to end pet homelessness. PEDIGREE Foundation will also cover up to $50,000 in dog adoption fees in select Adoption Weekend markets.
Each adopted pet will go home with a Mars Petcare starter kit. Depending on the location, this may include food and treats from brands like PEDIGREE®, IAMS™, ROYAL CANIN®, DENTASTIX™ or TEMPTATIONS™; an opportunity for a complimentary health exam from VCA Animal Hospitals or Banfield Pet Hospital®; a free day of day care from Camp Bow Wow® after successful completion of a dog’s interview day; and coupons and swag from Camp Bow Wow®, VCA Animal Hospitals, WISDOM PANEL™ DNA Test, WHISTLE™ and the BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ program.
Participating Shelters and Hours
Click on the names or logos below for location and shelter details.
Bentonville, AR
Bentonville is home to many Mars Associates and is a Certified City in Mars Petcare’s BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ program. Adoption fees are being covered by Mars Petcare.
Best Friends Pet Resource Center in NW Arkansas
- Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sunday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Chicago, IL
Chicago is home to many Mars Food & Nutrition Associates and Mars Petcare is the veterinary partner for PAWS Chicago. Adoption fees for select pets are being covered by Mars Petcare and PEDIGREE Foundation.
- Friday: Noon to 7 p.m.
- Saturday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Denver, CO
Denver is home to Camp Bow Wow® doggy day care and boarding, which is supporting local adoptions along with Mars Petcare.
MaxFund Animal Adoption Center
- Friday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- *Note: The cat shelter’s hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. all three days.
Honolulu, HI
Honolulu recently received a BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ grant to support their community cat program. Adoption fees for select pets are being covered by Mars Petcare and PEDIGREE Foundation.
- Friday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- *Note: The Kosasa Family Campus at Ho’opili is open until 7 p.m. all three days.
Kansas City, MO
Kansas City is home to a Mars Petcare manufacturing facility and is a Certified City in Mars Petcare’s BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ program. Adoption fees are being covered by Mars Petcare and PEDIGREE Foundation.
- Friday: Noon to 6 p.m.
- Saturday: Noon to 6 p.m.
- Sunday: Noon to 5 p.m.
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas is home to the Ethel M® Chocolates Factory and is a Certified City in Mars Petcare’s BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ program. Adoption fees are being covered by Mars Petcare and PEDIGREE Foundation.
- Friday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Saturday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles is home to VCA Animal Hospitals. Adoption fees are being covered by Mars Petcare.
- Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
McLean, VA / Vienna, VA / Fairfax, VA
McLean is home to Mars, Incorporated’s global headquarters. Mars Petcare is matching adoption fees from the day with a donation to the rescue.
- Friday: 1 to 3 p.m. at Tyson’s Corner PetSmart
Nashville, TN
Nashville is home to the North American headquarters of Mars Pet Nutrition. Adoption fees are being covered by Mars Petcare and PEDIGREE Foundation.
- Friday: Noon to 4 p.m.
- Saturday: Noon to 4 p.m.
- Sunday: Noon to 4 p.m.
- Friday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Williamson County Animal Center
- Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Sunday: Closed
Newark, NJ / Madison, NJ
Newark is home to Mars Snacking. Adoption fees are being covered by Mars Petcare and PEDIGREE Foundation.
St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center
- Friday: 1:30 to 6 p.m.
- Saturday: 1:30 to 6 p.m.
- Sunday: 1:30 to 6 p.m.
Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix is home to Mars Petcare Sales Associates and is a Certified City in Mars Petcare’s BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ program. Adoptions are being supported by Mars Petcare and PEDIGREE Foundation.
- Friday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Saturday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
St. Charles, MO
St. Charles is home to ROYAL CANIN®, which is covering adoption fees throughout the weekend. St. Charles is also a Certified City in Mars Petcare’s BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ program.
City of St. Charles Animal Shelter
- Friday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Sunday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tampa, FL
Tampa is home to BLUEPEARL™ Pet Hospital. Adoption fees from the weekend will be matched with a donation from Mars Petcare and PEDIGREE Foundation to Humane Society of Tampa Bay.
- Friday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Vancouver, WA
Vancouver is home to BANFIELD® Pet Hospital. Adoption fees are being covered by Mars Petcare and PEDIGREE Foundation.
Humane Society for Southwest Washington
- Friday: Noon to 6 p.m.
- Saturday: Noon to 6 p.m.
- Sunday: Noon to 6 p.m.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. is a Certified City in Mars Petcare’s BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ program. Adoption fees are being covered by Mars Petcare and PEDIGREE Foundation.
- Friday: Noon to 7 p.m.
- Saturday: Noon to 7 p.m.
- Sunday: Noon to 7 p.m.
Why Adopt?
Despite a growing awareness of the many benefits pets bring, from companionship to increased wellbeing, more than six million pets enter U.S. shelters each year.1 Even as interest in pet adoption has risen, the number of stray pets arriving at shelters has increased 26% since 2021.2
When you adopt, you give a pet a loving home and help free up space at the shelter for other pets in need.
Need more convincing? Surveys show that people report feeling more relaxed and happier when they’re with a pet, that pets help reduce loneliness, and that pet ownership helps promote strong communities.
Check out this list of eight great reasons to adopt a dog or cat.
While we hope many people across the country will take part in the 15th annual Mars Pet Adoption Weekend, supporting pets is a year-round need. Please consider volunteering, adopting or fostering at a shelter near you!
1 https://www.aspca.org/helping-people-pets/shelter-intake-and-surrender
2 https://www.shelteranimalscount.org/reports/
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