Give Me A Home - The Pet Adoptathon
7 Jul 2002, Parkway Parade

"Give Me A Home!" The Pet Adopthaton took place on 7 July 2002, from 11 in the morning to 7 in the evening, at Parkway Parade.

Jointly organised by 3 animal-welfare groups, Action for Singapore Dogs (ASD), the Cat Welfare Society (CWS) and the House Rabbit Society of Singapore (HRSS), the Pet Adopthaton received much media support. 3 days before the event, on 4 July 2002, NewsRadio 93.8FM invited representatives from all 3 societies to discuss animal welfare issues and the approaching event on their regular 10.30am segment, "The Living Room". The newspapers, Lifestyle, Today and The Straits Time also covered the event.

As such, 7 July 2002, the day of the Pet Adopthaton, was long awaited and much anticipated by animal-lovers island-wide.

It was no surprise then that on the day itself, even before the official commencement of the event, animal-lovers were already swarming Parkway Parade.

Volunteers from all 3 societies were kept busy right till the evening when the event finally ended.

Besides introducing the animals available for adoption, answering queries about them and providing general care-taking tips on the animals, the societies also offered animal-related merchandise for sale.

Animal-lovers who were there from 1.30 to 3.40 in the afternoon were treated to a special programme consisting of pet shows, a talk on responsibility of pet-owners, a basic obedience demonstration, a talk by a vet, a special talk on rabbits and finally, the presentation of certificates of appreciation.

Taking place simultaneously were fringe activities such as balloons-twisting, portraits and caricatures drawing, as well as Polaroid-taking with volunteers dressed up as a cheery pink bunny. Judging from the excited squeals of the children who insisted on taking Polaroids, the pink bunny was one of the most popular attractions of the event.

With an estimated 2000 people attendance, the Pet Adopthaton has definitely been tremendously successful in finding good homes for the abandoned and unwanted animals of Singapore, and in raising animal-welfare awareness.