Mississauga is ramping up efforts this week to find permanent homes for dogs and cats currently in city shelters.

From Monday to Saturday, Mississauga Animal Services is hosting an adopt-a-thon, significantly reducing adoption fees to encourage people to adopt and give these pets “forever homes.”

“The community is invited to help find loving, permanent homes for our long-term shelter residents,” said City of Mississauga officials in a news release. “To promote adoption, the shelter is offering a 50 percent discount on adoption fees during this event.”

Animal Services is dedicated to lowering the number of dogs and cats awaiting adoption, with some animals having been in the shelter for over a year.

“This week-long adopt-a-thon is a chance to make a meaningful difference in an animal’s life by adding a loving member to your family,” shelter officials emphasized.

The city encourages anyone looking for a pet to visit the shelter this week, with no appointment necessary.

The Mississauga Animal Services shelter is located at 735 Central Pkwy. W., and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

In August, Animal Services focused on helping several dogs that had been at the shelter for over a year find good homes. This initiative is part of an ongoing effort to manage shelter populations and promote adoption as a preferred option.

Adopting from the shelter comes with numerous benefits, including comprehensive health checks to ensure successful adoptions. These benefits cover spaying/neutering, initial vaccinations (excluding rabies), microchipping, and deworming. Additionally, adoptions include a first-year pet license, with the fees supporting the shelter.

To adopt, individuals must be at least 18 years old, and all family or household members must be reachable by phone at the time of adoption. While no appointments are required, there may be brief waits to meet the animals.

For more information, visit the city’s website or contact Mississauga Animal Services.