The North Shore Animal League America likes shelter adoptions to keep moving, at a steady pace. So for the ninth consecutive year, the Long Island, N.Y., rescue shelter and welfare organization is taking that mantra to heart, sending four employees in two over-sized vans across the country to facilitate off-site adoptions.

But North Shore isn't set on advertising its own animals -- rather, it will help more than 100 animal shelters and rescue groups in 24 cities and 16 states keep their adoptions rolling.

It's the ninth annual Tour for Life, which officially launched this week and will run through mid-April. The program is co-sponsored by Purina.

"I think initially, it was just a concept to bring to the forefront the plight of homeless animals," said Joanne Yohannan, senior vice president of operations for North Shore, of the program's inception.

"This [off-site adoptions] was a unique way to highlight bringing animals to these high-traffic animal locations, because it was successful, and we began to see that same pattern of adoptions across the country."

Two vans, heading toward Florida and California, respectively, will set off today and tomorrow on the six week journey.

The goal is to boost interest in local shelters, as well as helping their animals, which can get overlooked when housed in drab, small cages, Yohannan says. She expects that the tour will help more than 700 animals across the country find new homes.

But North Shore's appearance is designed to have long-term effects, as well, rallying community support and media attention for unacknowledged and under-appreciated shelters.

The 2009 Tour for Life Adopt-A-Thon Event will be in Houston at the CAP shelter on Sunday, April 5th. Citizens For Animal Protection (CAP) is proud to once again be selected to participate in this lifesaving international effort spearheaded by the North Shore Animal League America of New York. This year the tour celebrates mixed breed dogs helping advance the mission of the American Mutt-i-grees™ Club, which promotes shelter adoptions and discourages purchasing pets from retailers supplied by puppy mills.

The Pet Adopt-a-thon event will be held on Sunday, April 5th from 12 Noon until 6:00 PM at the CAP shelter, 11925 Katy Freeway (77079). The Tour for Life Mobile Adoption Unit will also be at the shelter and activities include:

Lots of Wonderful Shelter Pets for Adoption
Bunny Buddies and Breed Rescue Groups
Giant Sidewalk Sale and FREE Giveaways
Bargains Galore at the CAP Thrift Store
Pet Care Information
Low-cost Microchipping Services

Visit the CAP Pet Supply Shop: Goodies for you and your pet!

Many fantastic dogs and cats are waiting to be adopted and CAP's Happy Tails Pet Supply Shop will be open for your pet supply needs. In addition, CAP's Thrift Store - "the only resale shop in Houston benefiting animals" - offers customers bargains galore.

Pets are invited to attend as an animal care technician will be available to administer lost/found Microchips. Microchips provide a permanent form of identification that cannot be stolen or altered and is a way to save your pet's life if they get lost.

To fully track the Tour for Life and its participating shelters, visit NSALAmerica.org.

Sources:

www.zootoo.com

Citizens for Animal Protection