A "Match-a-thon" Made In Pet Heaven

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – While Friday nights are usually reserved for celebrating the long-awaited weekend, this weekend, South Floridians will also have the chance to save a life.

Beginning Friday at 11:59 p.m. and running through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, the Humane Society of Greater Miami, Miami-Dade Animal Services, The Cat Network, Inc., and other local shelters will hold a 24 hour Mega Match-a-thon adoption event at the Miami-Dade Animal Services Department at Tropical Park located at 7900 Bird Road.

Prospective owners will have the chance of choosing from hundreds of dogs, cats, puppies and kittens to call their own.

Although the purpose of the event is to save animals from the streets and give them a permanent home; the around the clock adoption will revolve around food trucks, live music, car shows and kids entertainment.

Admission to the event is free, but adoptions will start at $30.

Miami is one of 55 communities across the country to receive grant funding in the first ever American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or ASPCA, "Mega Match-a-thon" event.

"We hope this event will encourage everyone to bring a pet home," said Alex Muñoz, director of the Miami-Dade Animal Services Department. "Besides promoting adoption of shelter pets, we will also be educating the public on the urgency of homeless pets and how it affects the community."

Each year, the Department receives over 30,000 pets. The goal of Animal Services is to reunite lost pets with their families or find lifelong homes for as many animals as possible.