It was raining cats and dogs down at the SPCA Tauranga in Greerton today.

Up to 80 cats and kittens, several dogs and two rabbits were up for adoption during the SPCA's annual Valentines Second Chance For Love Adoptathon.

'We've had a number of people show up today. There were a lot of families going through, plus a few couples, and I'm pretty sure I saw some grandparents in there picking up kittens, so we've had all walks of life come in,” says SPCA Tauranga operations manager Margaret Rawiri.

'It's been a great opportunity for people to mix and mingle with the animals and choose the one for them. I also saw a cute little black kitten choose its own owner by climbing over his shoulders and having a good time!”

Margaret says they run the Second Chance adoptathon each year around Valentines Day as it fits in nicely with the idea of people finding their purr-fect soulmate, and animals finding a loving forever home.

Also, it's currently the middle of the kitten season so the Adopathon is also the ideal way of creating space down at the SPCA Tauranga.

'We've still got another 50-60 kittens out in foster care, that's because they need to be eight weeks old before we can adopt them out.”

On behalf of SPCA Tauranga Margaret would like to thank everyone who came down to the Greerton branch to adopt an animal and support their work.

'There were a lot of people who were adopting a pet for the first time, but we also had some who've already adopted a pet from us in the past, and that's really great for us.”

Cole Hayson, 11, with his new kitten.

Charlie Pritchard, 8, meeting some of the kittens today at the SPCA Adoptathon.

Lily O'Neale, 5, getting her face painted at the event.

Volunteers raising money for the SPCA.