Ledyard - In a successful adoption event last month, more than 100 dogs found a home with local families and persons ready for a new best friend.

Only eight dogs remained after the Dog Days weekend adoption event July 30-31. They are currently in foster homes and are hoping that they, and a new group of their furry friends, find a home during the next Dog Days event at Parmelee Farm in Killingworth on Aug. 27-28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"Their journey ends at Dog Days," Lorin Liesenfelt, founder of Dog Days, said last week. "Once they're with us, they don't go back to the shelter. They'll be adopted eventually and until then, they're placed into foster homes."

Pictures of the adoptable dogs are online and as new dogs become available before the event, their pictures will also be added, Liesenfelt said.

When the Essex-based organization scouts for a location to hold a weekend event, it considers places that are easy for the public to find and locations that are 30-40 minutes away from the last adoption event.

Adoptions are also limited to persons living within two hours of the event location, as home visits, scheduled to take place two weeks after the adoption weekend, are required.

"We have strict guidelines for the shelters to agree with and follow before we adopt out dogs, one includes the ability of their staff or people from another rescue to conduct a home visit," Liesenfelt said. "At the visit, they're looking for a safe environment for the dog, where the dog is kept, the condition of the dog and the demeanor of the dog and how it interacts with the people who adopted it."

Working tirelessly on a hot, humid day, she attributed the success of Ledyard's event to the volunteers who made the event go off without a hitch.

"It was uncomfortable, it's not comfy to volunteer with us, it's hard. Their level of commitment is beyond anything I've ever seen. They're doing it just because they love these dogs. It's the most heartwarming thing I've ever seen or experienced in my life," she said. "Our goal is to not get dogs adopted, our goal is to get dogs adopted into great homes. There's a big difference."

To learn more about the Killingworth adoption event, visit www.godogdays.com or call (800) 653-3134.

j.hanckel@theday.com