McKamey Animal Center and the Humane Educational Society launch their Home for the Holiday fostering program Tuesday

Steve Estill removes tabby cat Aladdin from his perch on Savannah Estill's shoulders before they adopt him from the Humane Educational Society of Chattanooga during their joint "Meowy Christmas" adoption event with McKamey on Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The two shelters partnered to offer discount pet adoptions through the night lasting until 4 a.m. on Friday.
Steve Estill removes tabby cat Aladdin from his perch on Savannah Estill's shoulders before they adopt him from the Humane Educational Society of Chattanooga during their joint "Meowy Christmas" adoption event with McKamey on Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The two shelters partnered to offer discount pet adoptions through the night lasting until 4 a.m. on Friday.

Pet foster parents needed for the holidays:

McKamey Animal Center and the Humane Educational Society will kick off their Home for the Holiday fostering program Tuesday. Both shelters will be looking for temporary foster homes for the animals not adopted by Saturday morning. They are asking people to foster an animal from Dec. 23 through Jan. 2., and estimate that 85 percent of the foster pets taken home will be adopted. Any Hamilton County resident can apply to foster a pet at either shelter.

As the Lohmann family drove from their home in Ringgold, Ga., to the McKamey Animal Center on Friday afternoon, Alechia Lohmann repeatedly told her two children and husband they were not going to adopt a dog.

"We came with my mom, who is adopting a cat," Lohmann said.

"But then we saw this puppy."

It was a tiny furball. And love at first sight.

"I was begging that we get it," said Skyler Lohmann, 13, who has been wanting a dog for a long time.

Skyler said the brown-haired St. Bernard mix was perfect.

Families from all around packed the McKamey Animal Center and the Humane Education Society on Friday night, as both local animal shelters combined to host Home for the Holidays or Bust.

The 12-hour event began at 4 p.m. Friday with staff and volunteers pledging to stay awake at both sites, hoping it would encourage more people to adopt.

For the event, adoption fees were reduced -- $12 for cats, $24 for dogs, including the pet's spay/neuter, vaccinations and a microchip.

Jamie McAloon, executive director of McKamey, said early Friday evening she never expected such a large turnout.

There was hardly any room left in McKamey's lobby as people eagerly waited in line to be taken back to see the potential pets.

"We want every adoptable animal gone to a good home," McAloon said. "We have about 200 adoptable animals needing homes."

The Humane Education Society's lobby was just as full Friday evening as people filled out paperwork and walked out of the shelter with new pets.

"I am very pleased," said HES Executive Director Bob Citrullo. "A lot of adoptions are happening."

He said working with McKamey on the event was a great idea, as it allows even more animals to go to good homes.

Even Santa attended the event, carrying around kittens and encouraging families to give pets for Christmas.

Shauna Hoffman and her two sons went to McKamey to adopt a kitten.

This summer they adopted a cat, and Hoffman said she and the boys were ready to add another kitten to the family.

"It has to be an active one to keep up with these boys," Hoffman said, smiling at her two sons.

Caleb Hoffman, 4, said he wanted them to find a girl kitten that was orange. He said the cat he has now, named Zebra, likes to chase his remote control car, and he hopes the new kitten will, too.

Contact staff writer Kendi Anderson at kendi.anderson@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6592.

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