Families line up for free pets at Sacramento SPCA

Dogs and cats were free on Saturday at the Sacramento SPCA, and the agency managed to find homes for nearly all of the shelter’s residents.

The SPCA was one of 13 California animal shelters participating in the national "Empty the Shelters" event, sponsored by Bissell. The company sponsored the adoptions of all dogs and cats Saturday at all participating agencies.

By the event's end on Saturday evening, 51 of the SPCA’s animals had found adoptive homes, said Dawn Foster, agency spokeswoman. Only a few felines and pups remained at the shelter when the event wrapped up at 6 p.m.

"We had quite a line this morning," Foster said. The first people in line arrived three hours before the shelter opened at 11 a.m.

"They were very, very excited to get their scruffy little dog, Sundae," Foster said.

All adoptions included spay or neuter surgery, an identifying microchip, vaccinations and flea treatment.

"It's about a $400 value, and of course you’re also getting a fantastic animal," Foster said.

This story was originally published May 5, 2018 at 5:54 PM with the headline "Families line up for free pets at Sacramento SPCA."