24 homeless pets you can rescue this weekend on Staten Island

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Dozens of animals in the care of the borough's volunteer animal rescue groups are waiting for their forever families to find them.

Click through the photos above to see the dogs, cats, puppies and kittens up for adoption at events this weekend.

Important dates to add to your calendar

Sept. 23: Paint it Forward
If you're artistic or not, get out your paint brushes for some artsy fun and help support TWO animal rescue groups at once! Join "Victory 4 the Voiceless" and "Fur Friends in Need with "Paint it Forward," a fundraiser event on Saturday, Sept. 23, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Wine & Design, 639 Veterans Road West, Charleston. Tickets are $40 each. They'll be "Nature Baked" vegan goodies (naturebakedny.com), a 50/50 and 2 tickets to Blue Man Group will be raffled. For more information, visit victory4thevoiceless.com or furfriendsinneed.com.

Oct. 8: Barktoberfest
Louie's Legacy annual charity event runs from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 8, at Big Nose Kates, 2484 Arthur Kill Road. A doggy costume contest will be at 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the patio. (Entry is free for those who enter dogs in the contest.) There will prizes, giveaways, raffle baskets, 50/50 raffle, live music, food and drinks! All $10 donations at door support Louie's Legacy. To register, your dog in the costume contest or for more information contact Rocker Jenn 631-645-6448 or Leighanne 718-877-3588 or Big Nose Kates 718-227-3282.

Oct. 21: Go Get It Life 5K Race Series
Go Get It LIFE invites you to the 2nd Annual 5K Race on Saturday, Oct. 21, 9 a.m. to noon. Rain or shine! (Race Day Schedule: 9 a.m. Packet pickup/ Registration opens, 9:30 a.m. race begins!)
This family-friendly run/ walk will benefit the Louie's Legacy Animal Rescue and the Silver Lake Park Conservancy. There will also be an animal adoption event hosted by Louie's Legacy Animal Rescue.
The Go Get It LIFE 5K Run will take you through the sprawling green acreage and around the picturesque waterway of Silver Lake Park.
*Start Line/ Base Camp will be set up at the intersection of Victory Boulevard and Forest Avenue.
**There are no refunds. T-Shirts are not guaranteed for race day registrants. To sign up now or for more info visit eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-go-get-it-life-5k-r.

Quick Guide to Natural Pet Food

When choosing the right natural food for your dog or cat it is important to remember several factors:
Freshness - The more fresh and less processed the food, the better. As with human food, the more pet food is processed, the more nutrients are lost.
Meat - Dogs and cats are natural carnivores, so it is important that the main source of protein in their diet is meat. Grains are inferior sources of protein and cats especially do not tolerate grains well. Diets with higher grain and carbohydrate content can lead to weight gain and other potential health problems.
Vegetables & Fruits - Vegetables and fruits contain beneficial vitamins and antioxidants and should be included in the diet as well -- to a greater extent for dogs than for cats. Cats are almost exclusively carnivores, so this portion should be smaller for them.
Variety - It is a good idea to feed your pet different types of food, either through rotation or mixing them together. Try different brands and/or different flavors of the same brand. Feeding your pet the same dry food all the time would be like you eating only corn flakes - sure you could survive, but it wouldn't be very healthful or enjoyable. Every meal does not need to be perfectly balanced. Feeding a variety of healthy meals will create balance over the course of the week.
Supplements - Most of the food we offer contains additional ingredients to add vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial nutrients. It is always a good idea to also add some fish oil to your pet's food, an excellent source of essential fatty acids, as well as digestive enzymes and an overall multivitamin supplement containing key nutrients (a lot like your daily vitamins, only more important since a pet's diet tends to be less fresh and varied than yours).
(Source: onlynaturalpet.com )

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.