LEWISTON — It sounds like a great car deal.

Zero down. Certified pre-owned. Purrs under the hood.

But it’s all cat.

And, the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society hopes, one of the specials that will draw potential adopters this weekend.

Starting at 6 p.m. Friday, the animal shelter on Strawberry Avenue will host a 24-Hour Super Adoption Event with a rotating series of prizes, activities and specials — including puppypalooza and feline frenzy — designed to find homes for every cat and dog in the shelter. 

“We like to think big here,” Development Director Donna Kincer said.

If the shelter is successful, it will be a step closer to winning the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ 100K Challenge, a national competition involving a select 50 animal shelters across the country to increase the number of cats and dogs adopted or returned to their owners.

The Greater Androscoggin Humane Society won a spot in the 100K Challenge earlier this year when 5,300 voters supported its entry. It is the only competing shelter in Maine. 

If the shelter returns or finds new homes for 974 cats and dogs between August and October — 300 more than it did during the same period last year — it will be eligible to win $300,000 in grants, including $25,000 for engaging the community, $20,000 for saving the most animals and $5,000 for saving the most animals in a month. A $100,000 grand prize will go to the shelter that saves the most cats and dogs overall.

Although the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society will give away pet ID tags, hold off-site adoption events and other promotions over the next three months, the 24-Hour Super Adoption Event will be its biggest push. It hopes to find homes for at least 100 animals between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday.

To bring in potential adopters, the shelter will kick off with a “tail-gate party” catered by Marco’s restaurant, and the debut of more than 50 puppies that will be immediately available for adoption. Every two to three hours after that, the shelter will run activities and promotions, including a 10 p.m. “pawjamma party” that earns everyone in pajamas a 50 percent discount off adult cat and dog adoption fees, a midnight “blackout special” that slashes by 75 percent the adoption fee of adult cats and dogs that are at least 50 percent black and, from 2 to 4 a.m., the “insomniac special,” which gives the first five adopters a free TV. 

“At 2 o’clock in the morning, let’s face it, there’s not a lot of reason to go to an animal shelter,” Kincer said.

At the end of the event, during a three-hour empty-the-shelter blowout, adopters can set their own prices on adult cats and dogs. 

Although other animal shelters across the country have held similar 24-hour events, this will be a first in Maine. A few other area shelters will bring some of their cats and dogs to Lewiston in hopes that the mega event will find homes for them, too.

Adoptive families will still have to fill out applications to take home animals. Adoption counselors will be on hand throughout the 24-hour event to help match animals and owners.

“Come adopt,” Kincer said. “Even if you don’t want to adopt, come out and take a peek.”

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Friday

5 to 8 p.m. “Tail”-Gate Party

Catering by Marco’s Restaurant

6 p.m. Shelter opens and the 24-hour Mega Adoption Event officially begins.

6 p.m. Puppypalooza

Visit and adopt a puppy

7 to 10 p.m. Children’s movies complete with “pup”corn

10 p.m. to midnight “Paw”jamma Party

Visit the shelter in pajamas and the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society will cut in half the adoption fee for any adult cat or dog.

Saturday

Midnight to 2 a.m. Blackout Special

Adopt an adult cat or dog that is at least 50 percent black and the shelter will waive 75 percent of the adoption fee.

2 to 4 a.m. Insomniac Special

First five adopters will get a free TV.

4 to 6 a.m. Early-bird Special

First five adopters get a free coffeemaker.

6 to 9 a.m. Wake up with free Starbucks coffee and pastry from the Italian Bakery.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Children’s Activities

10 a.m. to noon “Ask the …

… trainer”

… vet”

… groomer”

… pet food nutritionist”

11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunch

Have lunch with a furry friend.

1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Ice-cream Social

For pets and their humans

1 to 3 p.m. Feline Frenzy

Zero percent down on all Certified Pre-owned adult cats. Adoption fee will be waived.

3 to 6 p.m. Empty the Shelter

Adopters set their own prices on all adult cats and dogs.