Pet parents pounce on Wake County SPCA Black Friday deal

While a lot of other folks were lining up outside department stores and electronics outlets, some shoppers went to the SPCA of Wake County looking for a different kind of holiday bargain.

Posted 10:08 p.m. Nov 25, 2016 — Updated 11:48 p.m. Nov 25, 2016

RALEIGH, N.C. — While a lot of other folks were lining up outside department stores and electronics outlets, some shoppers went to the SPCA of Wake County looking for a different kind of holiday bargain.

The kind with four legs.

Friday was the Black Friday sale at the animal shelter, and all adoption fees were 50 percent off.

The discount definitely made for a busy day.

Roughly two dozen animals went to new homes.

When the doors opened at 11 a.m., about a dozen people were already lined up to look for a new member of the family. That was great news to Kim Janzen, the director of the SPCA.

Janzen said the holiday weekend is a great time to adopt a pet.

"You know, we always used to say that it's a bad idea to adopt a pet during the holidays, but it's actually a really good time because families have extra time," Janzen said. "They're at home, they're just hanging out, and they can give their new pet time to acclimate."

While most kids their age spent Black Friday lining up for the latest gadgets, the Alshwaiki sisters were lined up at the shelter. Gofran Alshwaiki is 13. She came with 19-year-old Heba and 7-year-old Duaa to look for a furry friend.

"I already have an older cat," Gofran Alshwaiki said. "She's 2, and she seems kind of lonely sometimes and it's just kind of—it seems nice to get a kitten, and so we came here to adopt."

When they walked into the kitten room, 2-month-old Bodhi made his interest known right away.

It was love at first sight for Duaa Alshwaiki

"He was meowing when we just got in the room because he chose us," Duaa Alshwaiki said.

Then there was Bodhi's brother Kuma, who charmed Heba and Gofran the minute they picked him up, too. But it didn't take the girls too long to make a decision: They got both.

Although the half-off sale was over when the doors closed at 6 p.m., the shelter will be open for regular adoptions all weekend.

For families who wish they could take a pet home but just can't, there's still a way to help: People can sponsor an SPCA animal while it waits for a good home.

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