Ian and his family stood outside
in the October early-morning chill for an hour and a half for a chance to be the first to meet Rita and Magnolia, two puppies that had caught their eye on Anderson Humane’s website. “We need to see who we have a connection with,” Ian said of the pups, one of whom they hoped to bring home to join their household of four humans, three cats, one dog, and various reptiles.
Ian’s family was the first in line for The Road Home Mega Adoption Event, held October 15 and 16 as part of the ongoing partnership between Anderson Humane and Brilliance Subaru of Elgin. Though the family knew the event started at 11:00 a.m., they arrived at 9:30, motivated to find a new puppy to help fill the void left by the pet they’d lost just a month before.
It wasn’t long before others joined the line. Mark, who lives alone, was looking for a dog, “a loving buddy” to help keep him company. Bianca and Andre were drawn to the kittens sleeping and mewling inside the Subaru showroom, hoping to find a companion for Moxie, their adult cat at home.
This was the second Road Home Mega Adoption Event at Brilliance Subaru of Elgin, the dealership that hosts one of Anderson Humane’s adoptable dogs as their Rescue Dog of the Day two days every week. The event was also a local expression of Subaru Loves Pets, a national initiative dedicated to getting animals out of shelters and into loving homes.
“Coming off the first event, with the excitement and momentum it generated, we knew we had to do it again,” said Kevin Keefe, the owner of Brilliance Subaru of Elgin. The first event, held in June, surpassed expectations, as did this second one. The goal was 75 pet adoptions. By the end of the second day, 76 previously homeless animals were in brand-new homes getting to know their forever families.
“Seventy-six dogs and cats is about how many we adopt out from all our locations in a typical week,” said Dean Daubert, Anderson Humane’s Chief Operations Officer. “To get that many adopted in one weekend is very exciting. That’s a lot of animals placed in loving homes. And that frees up space in our shelter to save even more animals in need.”
Mia, the first animal adopted at the event, went home with Daisy, who fell for the kitten’s tiny face. “She’s so delicate and cute!” Daisy said, adding that Mia will be a great companion for Oreo, her adult cat at home.
Aaron came to the adoption event with his wife and their 3-year-old daughter. When he saw Sweets, a pit-lab-mix puppy sitting on his daughter’s lap licking her face, he knew the pup was the one. The family was excited for this new addition, for many reasons. “My wife had a miscarriage recently,” Aaron said. “We needed to add some joy and light to our home.”
When Ian, the first attendee of the day, saw his wife, Angie, holding Magnolia, a shepherd mix, he knew they’d found their new dog as well. “Even through her sunglasses, I could see that look on her face,” Ian said of his wife. “Shepherds are my breed,” she said with a sheepish smile. The entire family held Magnolia and found her calm and relaxed. “A real sweetie pie,” Ian said. And that chilly morning wait? “Totally worth it. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
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