Hundreds of rescue animals will be looking for their forever homes on national Pet Adoption Day on February 6.

The initiative, led by PETstock’s charity foundation PETstock Assist in partnership with not-for-profit organisation PetRescue, aims to raise awareness of pet adoption and encourage prospective pet owners to turn heartbreak into hope and give a rescue animal a second chance.

Pet Adoption Day is held at 100 PETstock stores around Australia.

Animal rescue organisations will be at PETstock Warners Bay from 10am to 2pm to educate the community about how to provide abandoned pets with permanent, loving homes.

Some of the reasons pets enter rescues are lifestyle changes (job loss, divorce, a new baby), financial insecurity, health complications, moving house and time restrictions.

PetRescue co-founder Vickie Davy said educational campaigns like Pet Adoption Day showed people that choosing to adopt a pet could be rewarding.

“The sad reality is rescue pets face a grim future without adoption, so by welcoming a rescue pet into your home you may be saving a life,” she said.

“Giving an animal a new lease of life is incredibly rewarding and they will thank you every day with unlimited love and affection.”

Rescue animals are de-sexed, vaccinated and treated for parasites before they are put up for adoption.

They also undergo a comprehensive veterinary and behavioural assessment.

For more information visit PETstock.com.au or PetRescue.com.au.