Never before in New Mexico had 630 pets been adopted at a weekend event at one site, but that's just what April 25 and 26's Fetch-apalooza managed to accomplished.  The two day event at the Albuquerque Journal Center also set a new statewide record for the number of pets adopted in a single day, 445 on Saturday, April 25.

Never before had so many organizations statewide come together for such an event.  Fetch-apalooza was co-spondored by Mayor Martin J. Chávez' office, Albuquerque Animal Welfare, the Albuquerque Journal and the Petco Foundation.  More than 35 municipalities and animal rescue groups around New Mexico were invited and participated, along with numerous vendors and other animal groups.  The result was to turn the Albuquerque Journal Center grounds into a small city, attracting over 7,000 persons over a two day period and creating an atmosphere by which hundreds of pets found loving, permanent homes.

"This has been the best adoption event that we've ever had in the history of New Mexico," said Jeanine L. Patterson, MS, RN, Director of Albuquerque Animal Welfare.  "We're so grateful to the many people statewide who gave a commitment this weekend to give deserving pets a new lease on life."

The event was so successful, groups are making plans to continue the tradition in 2010.