If you were looking at getting a pet, adoption fees have been waived at Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando this weekend.

  • Pet fees waived at Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando this weekend
  • Home for the Pawlidayz event
  • Pet Alliance also involved in Adopt-a-Thon with Reed Nissan

Zappos.com and Best Friends Animal Society are helping to pay for adoption fees at the Orlando and Sanford shelters through Monday.

This is the second year Zappos and Best Friends has joined forces to get pets "Home for the Pawlidayz." The shelter group and the online shoe company are trying to get 9,000 pets across the country adopted this year.

The Orlando and Sanford shelters are open every day from noon until 6 p.m. Pet Alliance also is hosting several offsite events at area PetSmart stores.

Pet Alliance is also currently hosting its 90-Day Adopt-a-Thon with Reed Nissan and Reed Nissan Clermont. Throughout the Adopt-a-Thon, adoption fees are reduced to $25 for all pets over six months old.

The pet group will also host a special event at the dealerships on Dec. 13 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Adoption fees will be waived during that time at both the shelters and for pets at the dealerships.

Last year, over 2,000 pets were adopted during the Adopt-a-Thon.

To check out all the adoptable pets at Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando, head to the website.

If you can't get down to Orlando or Sanford and you want to find a shelter doing a similar event near you, head to the Zappos website.

If you're adopting a pet during the holidays...

Everyone has seen the cartoons where a pet wearing a big red bow is given as a gift at Christmas.

Many adoption and pet health groups warn against giving a pet as a gift. However, if you are bringing a pet home for the holidays, there are some things to consider:

  1. Make sure you have time to get your pet adjusted. The holidays are always a busy time. Lots of events, lots of running around, decorations, cooking, meeting friends and family. Pets are already trying to adjust to a new life. If your life is crazy, you will needlessly stress your pet out, which could lead to behavioral problems. So take some time to decide whether you have the time to commit to helping a pet ease into a new life.

  2. Make sure your pet has a safe place to go. Before you bring your new dog or cat home, make sure your pet has some place safe and comforting to retreat to when everything gets crazy -- a soft bed, a quiet corner or room, toys to chew on, a blanket to cuddle in. Make sure everyone knows to back off when your pet is in that space.

  3. Make sure people know how to behave. Habit when there is a new dog or cat in the home is everyone gets excited and children squeal and everyone wants to smush it and kiss it and cuddle it and love it to death. When the pet is not used to this, it's a recipe for disaster. Don't let people crowd your new pet. Make sure kids are never unsupervised and know how to behave (no pulling, hugging, putting your face in theirs, etc.). Let pets come to people.

  4. Keep holiday decorations and food away from them. Pets can get hurt and/or sick on shiny decorations and rich food. Keep both away from your pet.