PetSmart Charities has saved over seven million pets through adoption and will look to keep that number growing at a PetSmart near you on Sep. 15-17.

PetSmart partners with Animal Welfare Organizations all over the United States four times per year to host National Adoption Weekends. From personal experience, I can say there is no greater joy than helping an animal in need find their forever home. Whether you like puppies, kittens, cats or dogs, you will be able to find it all this weekend.

“PetSmart is passionate about saving lives through adoption,” Hattiesburg store manager Aaron Miscally said. “We want to support the local community by helping them find their forever pet.”

Many local shelters including Southern Cross Animal Rescue (SCAR), Hub City Humane Society, Happy Healthy Pet and Southern Pines Animal Shelter will be bringing pets that are both fee-waived, meaning it will be completely free to adopt, and pets with reduced adoption fees.

If you are already a pet parent, it is understood than not everyone is in the market to adopt. However, you can still lend a paw. Whether it be through donations, volunteering or even just sharing a post on social media, you are able to be a part of their story.

Animals all too often find themselves unwanted, ending up on the street at risk of death as a stray or facing euthanasian when finally rescued. It is pivotal that we help bring these pets off the street and help find them a home.