SOUTHERN ILLINOIS -- Saturday was an especially good day for the 18 fur babies that got a new home thanks to the Heartland Pet Fest.
About 500 visitors from all over Southern Illinois journeyed to the Marion Pavilion for the annual event that promotes education and information about pets and pet products.
"It's been great this year," said Angela Frerking, a vet tech with Pet Wellness. "We've had a lot of new vendors."
There were also several first-time visitors to the event, including Alayna Herrmany of Pinckneyville, who brought her 21-month-old grandson, Neal Wyatt to the event.
"Love it!" exclaimed Wyatt, while waiting on a turn to the play the "plinko" game at the Pet Wellness booth.
Wyatt won an expandable pet bowl for his efforts at the game.
Finding Forever Animal Rescue of Marion had an extraordinary day, adopting out 16 cats and one dog.
Team members at that table said the annual event is a way to reach out to the community and find new adopters.
Two cats available for adoption are now in a new home in Herrin.
"I was already wanting to adopt a cat," said Matthew Baker, whose son, Bryson, was playing with a kitten that joined the Baker family. "I was driving by earlier and saw a huge sign that said cat adoption today -- it was a literal sign."
After visiting with the cats waiting on a forever home, Baker decided that his family could take two.
"We just want to make sure these pets have a healthy good home to live in," he said.
