If you’ve been considering adding a four-legged friend to your squad, this is the weekend to do it.
Hundreds of cats, dogs and bunnies are ready to find a new home this weekend — in your apartment.
To celebrate its 150th anniversary on April 10, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals are teaming up to help New Yorkers adopt new pets.
The ASPCA, America’s first and oldest animal welfare organization, was founded in NYC by Henry Bergh in 1866.
On Sunday, New York’s first-ever NYC Paws Parade will kick off at 11 a.m. at Madison Square Park, led by pet-loving Broadway superstar Bernadette Peters and non-triple-threat Instagram star Marnie the Dog.
Pets and people are invited to watch the procession, which will include marchers from the ASPCA, NYPD Mounted and Canine Units, FDNY mascots Hot Dog and Siren, and miniature therapy horses, along with giveaways and much more.
After the parade, Adoptapalooza Union Square will feature more than 300 homeless puppies, dogs, kittens, cats and rabbits in need of loving homes.
Adopted pets can get free microchips by Vetco, training tips from a certified Petco trainer, free ID tags and Animal Planet will cover all adoption fees during the event, which runs from noon to 5 p.m.
Those who aren’t ready to make the leap into pet parenthood can donate clean linens and pet toys for shelter animals on behalf of Rock & Rawhide at Adoptapalooza.
And for Brooklyn pet lovers, a second Adoptapalooza at House of Vans in Greenpoint (25 Franklin St.) will simultaneously take place Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Celebrity pets Marnie the Dog, Mervin the Chihuahua, Chloe Kardoggian and Ella Bean the Dog will be in attendance, ASPCA historical artifacts will be on display (think horse ambulance), and food trucks including Calexico, The Green Radish and Yeah Dawg will be on site.
We expect a tail-wagging good time.
