Column: Adoption days are here at Pasadena Humane

Nila (A519792), a sweet German Shepherd; Galaxy (A521664), a playful kitten; and April (A521458), an adorable rabbit, are just a few of the pets hoping to find new homes at Pasadena Humane’s first Free Adoption Day on Saturday, June 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is part of California Adopt-a-Pet Day, sponsored by the San Francisco SPCA, CalAnimals, and the ASPCA. View adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org/adopt.
Summer is the busiest time of year for animal shelters. At Pasadena Humane, we see the highest number of animals come in during these warmer months, many of them in urgent need of care and a new home.
To kick off the season, we’re holding our first big Free Adoption Day of the year this Saturday, June 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The goal is simple: find great homes for as many pets as possible. Every adoption helps open up space for more animals who need our help.
What makes this year especially exciting is that it’s part of a statewide campaign called California Adopt-a-Pet Day, sponsored by the San Francisco SPCA, CalAnimals, and the ASPCA. More than 150 shelters across California are joining forces to find homes for pets in need.
They say there is power in numbers, which is certainly true for a campaign like this one. Collaborating with animal welfare organizations across the state highlights the importance of adoption and the human-animal bond.
Free adoption events like ours have been used successfully by shelters nationwide for more than a decade. Still, we sometimes hear concerns that waiving fees might lead to poor outcomes for pets. The data, and our own experience, tell a different story.
Studies show that adopters who take home pets from free events are just as committed. They provide the same level of care, regular vet visits, and affection as those who pay a fee. These are families who simply waited for the right moment to walk through the door.
And that’s what events like this do, they inspire people to take action.