With animal shelter space hard to come by in Lewis and Thurston counties, the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis is partnering with Rochester’s Red Rose Animal Rescue and Feisty Felines feral cat rescue to host a series of pet adoption events recurring quarterly called “Operation Adoption.”

The first event is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, at the museum, located at 100 SW Veterans Way, according to Kristi Popenoe, a peer counselor with Veterans Journey Forward who is organizing the adoption events.

Veterans Journey Forward is a nonprofit focused on providing counseling and benefit guidance to veterans. It’s headquartered in the Veterans Memorial Museum.

“Red Rose Animal Rescue currently has over 80 dogs and puppies in their care along with several older kittens that are all looking for homes,” Popenoe said. “With so many animals in rescues, the Veterans Memorial Museum will be working on hosting one big adoption event each quarter.”

Along with the kittens and some adult cats looking for homes, there will be plenty of dogs and puppies.

“Dogs and cats can be great for emotional support. We are really big on using emotional support dogs with our work with veterans at Veterans Journey Forward,” Popenoe added. 

For those who might not be able to adopt an animal at this time but still want to help, donations of money, pet food and supplies will be accepted, with all proceeds going toward the Red Rose Animal Rescue.

Each event will feature animals up for adoption along with local vendors selling pet-related products, Popenoe said.

Among some of the vendors at the Dec. 21 event will be Lunabones Barkery, Doggie Designs Pet Grooming, Best Paw Forward dog training, Totally Pawsome, Doodle Creations and the Pacific NW Pet Center.

“Doggie Designs Pet Grooming will be here offering nail trims for donations. Pacific NW Pet Center will be here with information on pet nutrition and offering free samples while supplies last. They will also be providing gift bags to adopted pets,” Popenoe said. “Best Paw Forward will be here with information on training services.”

The Two Brunettes Espresso and Tap trailer will also be on hand selling coffee. 

And while the holiday season is typically when a lot of people get pets for themselves or for loved ones, Veterans Memorial Museum Executive Director Chip Duncan noted the museum will hold the events quarterly.

“We know it’s before Christmas, but we don’t want to make this an ‘adopt a pet before Christmas’ thing. There’s a lot of animals that need a home, and we just want to reach out and provide a venue for them to bring the animals and the public in,” Duncan said. “The idea is to do it quarterly, and help out the community.”

During the adoption events, admission to the Veterans Memorial Museum will be free.

For more information on the animals that will be featured at Saturday’s adoption event, message Red Rose Animal Rescue on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RedRoseAnimalRescue and Feisty Felines at https://www.facebook.com/feistyfelinesrescue.