INCLINE VILLAGE—Animal welfare organizations across Nevada joined together the last weekend of September for a three-day adoption event that found homes for nearly 1,800 animals.
Maddie’s Pet Adoption Days brought together 44 organizations to adopt out 753 dogs and 1,016 cats, with some shelters emptied out even before the event ended. All adoption fees were waived during the event with support from the Incline Village-based Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation.
COVID-19 restrictions have placed additional stresses on animal shelters as in-person adoptions and volunteer activities have been somewhat curtailed. Event organizers said several participating organizations got creative with their adoptions, offering “virtual” adoptions.
Maddie’s Pet Project of Nevada, which organized the event, shared several feel good stories from participating shelters:
A feel-good story comes from Chihuahua Rescue of Truckee Meadows. They brought a total of 19 dogs to their event and every single one of them found homes. Their shining star however was Buddy Epson. As a black dog, he was often overlooked and remained in a foster home for four years. Buddy finally found his forever home during Maddie’s Pet Adoption Days!
A great feel good story comes from Forgotten Dogs Animal Rescue in Las Vegas. Steve was a blind dog that they had high hopes for, however he kept getting overlooked. A young couple showed up and immediately were drawn to him. The staff told them how perfect he was, and this included his blindness. They replied “You are right, he is perfect. How do we adopt him?” and just like that, Steve has his new forever family!
Ginger has been a long-term resident at A Path 4 Paws. A loving couple who lost their dog to cancer just last week were looking to fill their home with happiness again. They did have a special request though; they needed a tortoise-friendly canine. Turns out, Ginger did the best with the tortoise test and she has found her forever family!

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