• More than a dozen animal rescue groups will be taking part in Adopt Love Adopt Local, now in its third year. That means prospective adopters will have more opportunities to find the animal just right for them. That’s how the Aragon family came to adopt Eve, a blind cattle dog from Arizona Cattle Dog Rescue. “We feel very lucky to have her,” said Desi Aragon, who has taken scores of free keepsake portraits of people with the animals they’ve adopted since the event started.
  • Not looking to adopt? There’s plenty to learn about as well as shop. Some of the pet-centric organizations that might be of interest: No Kill Pima County, A Tucson Tail Bed & Biscuit Dog Boarding, Central Pet, Pawlicious Pet Treats, Greyt Escape Accessories, Asavet Charities, Handi-Dogs Inc. and Loren’s Pooper-Scooper Service, among others.
  • There is a lot to watch. Gil Valdez, a retired police officer, has helped set up the K-9 demonstrations that draw crowds at Adopt Love Adopt Local each year. Last year he also came home with a new companion — a young German shepherd rescued from Rocky Point. “When I saw the dog I fell in love. He’s my sidekick. Wherever I go, he’s with me. I couldn’t have asked for a better companion,” Valdez said. Keo shares his new home with another shepherd and a Welsh corgi.

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Contact Inger Sandal at isandal@tucson.com or 573-4131. On Twitter: @IngerSandal