All ages are invited to attend the Ypsilanti District Library's Adopt A Pet Storytime on Aug. 1, 2026, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the downtown branch.
Adopt a Pet Storytime is an event where kids of all ages can come to YDL to participate in a themed around pet adoption and adopt a stuffed pet. There will be a variety of stuffed animals for participants to choose from. Participants may choose to decorate a pet house and make a collar for their new furry friend. At the event, there will be a pretend vet clinic where participants can give their animal a check-up before receiving an adoption certificate, said Sam Killian, community relations coordinator at YDL.
YDL staff gathered donations of stuffed animals from community members. following a social media post on Jun. 27, 2026 saying they were looking for clean stuffed animals depicting real animals — not mythical animals or other characters — that are 12 inches or smaller.
"I think people wanted to get rid of stuffed animals, but also, I think people like helping the library, and they were happy to. Because stuffed animals are usually kind of a special thing for people and kids, and so I think it meant something to them that they could pass them on to a place like the library that would give other kids a chance to keep on telling the animal story," Killian said.
The library received over 500 donated stuffed animals, Killian said. He felt confident that they would have enough for everyone participating in Adopt a Pet Storytime and potentially for future events as well.
"We're really grateful to the community for helping us make this happen. It helps us save money, it cuts down on waste, lets people not have to throw away stuffed animals that are in good, decent shape," Killian said.
No registration is required and Adopt a Pet Storytime event is free. It will be located in the Michigan Avenue Program Room.
