Residents interested in adopting a pet can do so at no charge this week from the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center and Friends of Montgomery County Animals.

The two organizations are holding an “Autumn Adoption Fest” and waiving the adoption fees on all species at the shelter to make room for new arrivals.

“This event is going to be especially exciting because we’re temporarily changing how we do adoptions in order to decrease wait time for patrons and maximize the number of animals we can send home each day,” said MCASAC Deputy Director Lex Lepiarz in a press release.

This summer has seen an unusually high number of animals arriving at the shelter, largely the result of multiple hoarding cases investigated by police department’s Animal Services Division. Recent natural disasters such as Hurricane Florence have also displaced many animals in the affected areas.

The adoption event begins today and will run through Thursday, Oct. 25, except on Wednesdays when the shelter is closed.

Interested adopters should review the center’s adoption requirements before visiting the shelter’s animals.

The center is located at 7315 Muncaster Mill Rd. in Derwood and is open weekdays (except Wednesday) from noon-7 p.m. and weekends, noon-5 p.m.

Photo from Federal Emergency Management Agency