Adoption Events
Connecting pets and people through adoption leads to love and companionship — it’s what PetSmart Charities and local partners do together.
In-store adoption events attract local pet-lovers and foster community engagement. Special times are set aside for in-store adoption events, and they can happen all year long, too!
National Adoption Week
Three times a year, PetSmart Charities National Adoption Week helps the local community meet their matches.
Every adoption completed in-store that week earns credit toward Adoption Rewards, fueling the continued growth of your in-store adoption program. Create a festive environment for a community-focused event! Find tools & tips to help promote your event on social channels and through local media coverage: National Adoption Week marketing toolkit
Adopt Joy® Events
Adopting a new pet is a joyful experience. Adopt Joy events happen once a month, on Saturdays, except during a month in which National Adoption Week takes place. That's 9 Adopt Joy Saturdays a year across the 9 months without a National Adoption Week event.
Once a month, on a Saturday → Adopt Joy Events, unless that month has a National Adoption Week.
March, July & October → National Adoption Week takes over event messaging for the month, so there's no separate Adopt Joy Events Saturday. See the calendar below for the exact dates.
Adoption Event Dates 2027
Dates are subject to change. Please check partner communications for the latest details.
Planning for a Successful Adoption Event
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Confirm the event
Meet with the store leadership team and agree on the date, time, setup expectations, and store-specific procedures. They will register your event with PetSmart.
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Prepare your team
Confirm employees and volunteers have read and complete required waivers, and know their roles.
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Promote the event
Promoting your adoption event through local media coverage and social media posts will drive adoptions and visibility. Use the marketing toolkit here.
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Ensure pets are heathy
Confirm every adoptable pet taken in-store is healthy and ready for a new loving home. Bring all required pet records, adoption paperwork, and kennel cards.
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ĀME preparation
Ensure each member of your team knows how to enter and finalize adoptions in ĀME (Adoptions Made Easy), plus, how to handle payments, any returns of pets and how to get help for or escalate any problems.
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Be ready for proactive responses
If something feels off with a pet, customer or associate, talk with the Store Leader immediately. They are the first point of contact for policy questions, incidents or urgent concerns.
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Avoid potential problems
Ensure sick pets do not enter the store; only use approved signage and supplies; report incidents within 24 hours; remove ill pets immediately; keep pet records current.
Reach out to your Adoptions Grant Manager following the event to talk through non-urgent questions or issues here.
