Petco Love Event Places Several Hundred Pets in Homes

A two-day adoption event at Reliant Arena in Houston found new homes for hundreds of shelter dogs and cats, with fees waived on Sunday.

Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Pets — General

Photograph of empty pet carriers, a folded dog blanket, and a coiled leash on a concrete floor in a bright exhibition hall.
Several hundred shelter dogs and cats were adopted over two days at Reliant Arena in Houston, with Petco Love waiving $50 adoption fees on Sunday. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Several hundred shelter dogs and cats were adopted during a two-day event at Reliant Arena, hosted by Petco Love. Pets came from shelters across South Texas, and adoption fees of $50 were waived on Sunday.

Why it matters

The event moved hundreds of animals out of shelters in the Houston area, freeing space and giving pets permanent homes. Waived fees lowered the cost barrier for families considering adoption.

Thousands of dogs and cats from South Texas shelters were available, and several hundred were adopted over the two days. Fees normally set at $50 were waived on Sunday, but the precise total of adoptions was not reported.

The players

Petco Love

Petco Love is the nonprofit arm of retailer Petco that partners with more than 4,000 animal shelters nationwide to find homes for pets.

The details

Shelters from across South Texas brought adoptable animals to Reliant Arena, where adoption papers were completed before pets left with their new owners. The event attracted thousands of visitors, including families such as Travis Lingo and his sister Kara, who adopted Delta, a medium-size black pup with spotted paws. Volunteers from the city of South Houston also helped run the event on Sunday.

Timeline

  1. Saturday, November 7, 2026: First day of the adoption event, when Candy was adopted out.

  2. Sunday, November 8, 2026: Second day of the event, when adoption fees were waived.

Roadmap

This Houston adoption event is one local expression of Petco Love's national network of more than 4,000 partner shelters. It shows how a single national nonprofit can channel shelter animals into homes through coordinated regional events.

Residents looking to adopt can use waived or reduced fees at local events to lower the cost of bringing a pet home. Families should plan for the time needed to complete adoption paperwork on site before taking an animal home.

The takeaway

Adoption events that waive fees can make bringing home a shelter pet more accessible for families in Houston. Consider visiting a local shelter or adoption event to find a companion who needs a home.

Further reading

Explore more on Pets — General to see how shelters and adoption programs work across Houston.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Houston Chronicle.

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