SPCA's Mega Adoption event in Newark has more than 1,000 pets looking for homes

More than 1,000 animals will be up for adoption at the Brandywine Valley SPCA's Mega Adoption event June 29-30 in Newark. 

The event will be held Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Bob Carpenter Center. Admission and parking is free. The cost to adopt a pet is $35.

In preparation for the event, the Brandywine Valley SPCA, along with Wings of Rescue and greatergood.org, flew close to 100 dogs from Louisiana to the New Castle Airport June 22. The dogs came from overcrowded local shelters where they were at risk of euthanasia. 

Rick Browde of Wings of Rescue piloted the flight and helped unload dozens of cages from the plane. He said the feeling of helping the animals never gets old. 

"It just brings a smile to our faces because we know these pets, who were one foot in the grave, are all going to be adopted," Browde said.

The flight was the Brandywine Valley SPCA's 16th in collaboration with Wings of Rescue. 

"We love seeing animals that no one wanted suddenly have a rush of people after them to join a family," said Linda Torelli, Brandywine Valley SPCA's marketing director.

The dogs flown from Louisiana will be medically evaluated, prepared for adoption and made available at the Mega Adoption event. All animals at the event will be spayed/neutered, microchipped and up to date on vaccinations.

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This year's Mega Adoption event will be the sixth put on by the Brandywine Valley SPCA. The event is held twice a year. 

It will be held at the Bob Carpenter Center for the first time. Event organizers expect close to 7,000 attendees. 

At the last Mega Adoption event, held at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington in December, 1,134 animals were adopted, according to Torelli. In total, close to 4,400 animals have been adopted at the Mega Adoption events. 

"When we go through the Mega Adoption event we say it's the best exhausted feeling you've probably ever had in your life," Torelli said. "When we finish, and we see all of the empty cages back at the shelter, that’s the real reward."

To bring more than 1,000 animals to the floor of the BOB, the Brandywine Valley SPCA partners with 14 shelters and rescues, including the Delaware Humane Association, Faithful Friends, ACCT Philly and St. Hubert's of New Jersey.

Event organizers recommend adopters bring all family members and any dog(s) already in their home so they can meet the potential adoptees. About 100 people will be let into the event at a time, so that representatives from the SPCA can meet with each potential adopter. Torelli said to expect a wait in the morning.

Contact Brandon Holveck at bholveck@delawareonline.com or at (302) 324-2267. Follow on Twitter @holveck_brandon.