It’s that time of the year again—time to play with some adorable dogs and cats, and maybe take home a forever friend!

PetSmart’s annual National Adoption Week is back from Monday, March 23, through Sunday, March 29, and that means you can walk into your local PetSmart to meet and play with some adorable pets that need a home, with a chance to make a real difference.

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Held in partnership with Hill’s Pet Nutrition, the PetSmart Charities National Adoption Week builds on the chain store’s ongoing success in placing adopted pets with loving families.

According to PetSmart Charities, a pet is adopted at a PetSmart store every 38 seconds—that’s 11,000,000 adoptions since 1994—and while that’s an astounding figure, there are still more animals that need to be loved.

All week long, local shelters will bring a cuddly cast of characters to local PetSmart stores where customers can meet and greet, play with toys together and get to know each other. If a bond feels extra special, you can adopt your new pet and take them home with you that same day.

How Else Can You Help Pets in Need?

If lifelong adoption is just not in the cards for your household, there are other ways to help pets in need.

Volunteering is a great way to get involved. Check with your local shelter to see if they could use an extra pair of hands once in a while—they almost certainly could. Shelter animals need just as much love and attentive care as housed pets, and you can help clean, feed, walk and play with those dogs and cats, even if you can’t take them home.

Related: Animal Shelter Dresses up Pups Like ‘Stranger Things’ Characters To Boost Adoption Awareness

Fostering a shelter dog or cat is also a great way to give back. Shelters often run out of space to house all these adorable creatures, and while they search for a forever home, gracious foster parents care for these cuties, helping them get used to home environments and providing the space they need to grow healthy and play.

Sharing pictures and videos of adorable pets-to-be on social media is also a great way to get dogs and cats adopted. If you come through PetSmart’s Adoption Week celebrations and post about the cute dogs and cats at your local branch, someone you know might see the video and absolutely fall in love!

Donating to PetSmart Charities is also a means to spread the love. These monetary hugs support local shelters and rescue organizations, helping ensure all the unhoused dogs and cats they meet are given a fighting chance at a good life.

If you can’t make it to your local PetSmart for Adoption Week, don’t worry! There are often similar Adopt Joy events scheduled in stores, so you can find time to meet with local shelter animals at your local PetSmart.

Related: This Foster Dog Went to His First Adoption Event, and We Are Losing It

This story was originally published by PawNation on Mar 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add PawNation as a Preferred Source by clicking here.