Dozens line up to adopt animals abandoned at Edmonton pet store

Animal lovers in Edmontonlinedup for hours Friday at the Edmonton Humane Society for a chance to adopt a pet from nearly 500cats, dogs, fish, reptiles and even spiders.

"We're a family that loves dogs so we thoughtwe'd help them out," said John Grady, who with his son Jackson met the dog that willbecome the latest member of their family.

• 500 pets abandoned at West Edmonton Mall store up for adoption
• Nearly 500 'abandoned' animals seized from pet store in West Edmonton Mall

The animals wereseized from an abandonedpet store in West Edmonton Mall last month and the society is hoping to find homes for the animals quickly, making this weekend a record-setting adoption event.

Most of the animals will be available for a reduced adoption fee of $25, while fees for puppies and kittens will be reduced by 25 per cent. Fish will be adoptable for $1.

The line outside the humane society began forming at 7:30 a.m. Friday and was more than 100 deep before doors opened at noon.

Taralyn Adams came from Sylvan Lake, almost two hours southwest of Edmonton,to adopt a gargoyle chameleonforher and her two kids.

'We have called out all hands on deck'

7 years ago

Duration 1:13

Evan Lawlor from the Edmonton Humane Society expects this weekend will be the society's largest adoption event ever, with people coming from as far away as Saskatchewan.

"They're a unique animal to have," Adams said. "It's an unfortunate event, but I'm excited about being able to adopt."

The society says it's still not clear under exactly what circumstances the abandoned animals were discovered.
Its animal control officers are still investigating.