831 Adoption Special keeps Brynne Smith's legacy alive, continues to encourage adoption

Foothills Animal Rescue Offers $0 Adoptions Aug. 29-31

Throughout Foothills Animal Rescue’s Scottsdale campus, one number appears again and again: 831. It is not a room number or an internal code. For Brynne Smith and her family, 831 was a special way to say “I love you,” representing eight letters, three words and one meaning. Today, that message is woven into the adoption center created in her memory and the second chances that begin there every day.

Foothills Animal Rescue will bring that meaning to life through its annual 831 Adoption Special, offering $0 adoptions Saturday through Monday, Aug. 29-31, at the Brynne Smith Memorial Campus, 10197 E. Bell Road in Scottsdale. The campus will remain open for extended hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. all three days, giving visitors more time to meet available dogs and cats and find a forever companion.

“The meaning behind 831 is woven into everything we do at Foothills Animal Rescue,” says Lana Shapiro, chief advancement officer for Foothills Animal Rescue. “It represents love, but it also represents action. Every time an animal leaves our campus with a family of their own, Brynne’s legacy continues in the most meaningful way.”

The Brynne Smith Memorial Campus was built in memory of Brynne, an Arizona native remembered for her radiant smile, generous heart and lifelong love of animals. The number 831 can be seen throughout the campus as a quiet reminder of the message she shared with her family and the compassion carried forward through every animal given a safe place to land.

Each year on Aug. 31, Foothills Animal Rescue celebrates 831 in Brynne’s honor. The day recognizes her compassion, thanks the Smith family for helping make the campus possible and continues her legacy through the rescue’s work to save animals in need.

During the three-day special, all adoption fees will be waived. Prospective adopters can meet available pets, learn about their personalities and needs and speak with the rescue’s adoption team before deciding whether the connection is the right fit.

For some visitors, that may mean meeting an energetic dog ready for walks, hikes and a full calendar of adventures. For others, it may be a quiet cat looking for a sunny window, a soft place to sleep and someone willing to offer patience. Often, the match is less predictable: A person arrives simply to look and meets the animal they cannot imagine leaving behind.

What to know about the 831 Adoption Special:

• $0 Adoptions. Adoption fees will be waived throughout the weekend for available dogs and cats.

• Extended Weekend Hours. The Brynne Smith Memorial Campus will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 29-31.

• A Meaningful Tradition. The annual event honors Brynne Smith and the meaning behind 831: eight letters, three words and one meaning, “I love you.”

• More Second Chances. Every adoption creates space for Foothills Animal Rescue to help another animal in need.

• Ways to Help. Those who are not ready to adopt can still support the event by sharing available pets and encouraging others to visit.

“Waiving adoption fees gives more people a chance to come in, meet the animals and see if there’s a connection,” says Shapiro. “The fee may be $0 for the weekend, but bringing a pet home is still a big commitment, and it can be the start of something really special for both the animal and the family.”

The impact of each adoption extends beyond the animal heading home. It also creates room for the next pet arriving frightened, displaced or in need of medical support, allowing Foothills Animal Rescue to provide the care and stability needed before another adoption story can begin. That ripple effect is at the heart of 831 weekend. One adoption becomes an open kennel. An open kennel becomes a safe place for another arrival. And a number once shared as a personal expression of love becomes part of a much larger story.

The 831 Adoption Special will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 29-31 at the Brynne Smith Memorial Campus, 10197 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. Adoption fees will be $0 throughout the event. For more information and to view adoptable pets, visit foothillsanimal.org. 

About Foothills Animal Rescue: Foothills Animal Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to saving and transforming the lives of homeless pets and the people who love them. Founded in 1995 as a small foster-based group in Cave Creek, Arizona, it has grown into one of the Valley’s most trusted animal welfare organizations. The rescue operates the Brynne Smith Memorial Campus & Adoption Center at 10197 E. Bell Road in Scottsdale, where it provides a safe haven, compassionate care and second chances for animals in need. Learn more at foothillsanimal.org.

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