Santy Claws has been making a list and checking it twice, and wouldn’t you know, all the kitties and pups at Memphis Animal Services (MAS) have been put on the nice list. With so many good boys and girls at the shelter, MAS has no choice but to host their third annual 12 Hours of Christmas Adoption Event on Saturday, December 16th, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
For the event, the shelter will extend their normal hours and will waive all adoption fees, which typically range from $20 to $80. All adoptions at MAS, regardless of adoption fee, include spay/neuter, microchip, vaccines, collar, leash, customized ID tag, and heartworm testing and treatment medications if needed (dogs). This Saturday, every adopted dog and cat will go home with a $50 pet supply store gift card and a gift from under the Christmas tree (while supplies last). Hot chocolate will be available for human guests, and adopters can take their first family photo in front of a holiday backdrop.
At last year’s event, 152 pets got adopted in the 12 hours, said Katie Pemberton, marketing and communications supervisor at MAS. A list of MAS’ currently adoptable dogs and cats can be found here. (Again, all of them are good boys and girls. Santy Claws said so.)
“This is the most joyful event of the year for our staff and volunteers as they watch dozens of dogs and cats find loving families in time for the holidays,” said MAS director Ty Coleman in a press release. “It’s a heartwarming day that fills us with gratitude for the support of our community.”
“This year, we have even more to be thankful for since 12 Hours of Christmas falls during [Bissell Pet Foundation’s national] Empty the Shelters,” added Coleman. Bissell’s initiative has allowed MAS to reduce adoption fees to just $10 from December 1st to 17th. “The support from Bissell Pet Foundation allows us to continue our mission of making Memphis a safe place for people and pets; keeping pets with the families who love them; and caring for and saving the lives of pets who enter the shelter.”
If you are not in the position to adopt at this time, you can still support the shelter by donating supplies, volunteering, or fostering. Foster field trips are also a great way to give back by taking a pup out of the shelter for a day. (Pro tip: If you hoard copies of print Flyers in your house, the shelter will always take newspapers to line the bottom of cats’ kennels. Reduce, reuse, recycle!)
Memphis Animal Services is open daily from noon to 4 p.m. Follow Memphis Animal Services on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X @AdoptMAS, where you’ll also find cute dog and cat content daily.
