(Joplin, MO) -- Good news for dogs and cats in Joplin, hundreds now have new homes.
Nearly 3,000 people from 24 states rolled into Joplin over the weekend to adopt hundreds of animals displaced by last month's devastating tornado.
"My dad thought that maybe we could help, come get a dog, and we're gonna name it Joplin," explains a young girl looking to adopt.
The Joplin Humane Society teamed up with the ASPCA to give away more than 600 cats and dogs, for free.
It says this two day adopt-a-thon has been very successful.
Not only are the application fees waived, but the animals are microchipped, spayed and neutered.
The animals are also leaving with free vaccinations and dog tags.
The line was long, but once they got in and filled out an application counselors matched the families with their perfect pet.
"It is an amazing experience, after all this hard work and all the heartache just to see this many, the outpouring of people to come out and take one of these guys into their homes, is just, it's phenomenal," adds Karen Aquino, Executive Director of the Joplin Humane Society.
To date, the ASPCA provided emergency sheltering for approximately 1,300 animals during the month-long sheltering period.
500 animals were reunited with their owners, 200 others, including newborns and injured animals, not yet available for adoption, will be made available in the coming weeks.