This holiday season, the SPCA of Wake County is highlighting the 12 Strays of Christmas; the six dogs and six cats who have been waiting at the animal shelter longer than any of the other shelter pets, some since Christmas of 2007.

Studies show more families adopt pets during December than any other time of the year. The SPCA hopes to take capitalize on this and send as many pets home as possible this December, especially some of those who have been waiting the longest.

"The holidays are the perfect time to reach out and save the life of a homeless pet," said Mondy Lamb, SPCA spokeswoman. "During the holidays especially, people are looking for meaningful ways to engage with the world and with their families. Saving the life of a homeless animal is tremendously rewarding."

As a holiday incentive, the SPCA is offering $20 dollars off the adoption fee of every animal in the SPCA's Adoption Center the weekend before Christmas Saturday, Dec. 20 through Sunday, December 21.

During the Home for the Holidays Adopt-A-Thon, the SPCA is reducing the adoption fee from $115.00 to $95.00 for dogs, and $95.00 to $75.00 for cats. The adoption fee includes spay/neuter surgery, deworming, vaccines, and a microchip.

"We have a few animals who spent last Christmas alone here at the SPCA's animal shelter," said Lamb. "We would love to see these guys go home by the end of the year."

The Home for the Holidays Adopt-A-Thon will run from 11:00am to 6:00pm on Saturday, December 20, 2008 and Sunday 1:00pm to 5:00pm at the SPCA Curtis Dail Pet Adoption Center, 200 Petfinder Lane (off Tryon Rd and Hwy. 70) in Raleigh, NC 27603.