"12 Strays of Christmas" feature helps Animal Welfare League adopt out 161 animals in two days

EIGHT of the 12 cats and dogs featured in Saturday's Gold Coast Eye have found a home in time for Christmas.

A FESTIVE season campaign to empty the cages at the Animal Welfare League of Queensland has left the place bereft of barks after 161 animals were adopted in two days.

Eight cats and dogs featured in the Gold Coast Eye `12 Strays of Christmas' feature were among the pets who found `forever homes' in time for Christmas.

Two-year-old Australian kelpie cross border collie Heidi, nine-year-old bull terrier cross mastiff Monkey, six-year-old Australian cattle dog cross Australian shepherd Millie and three-year-old domestic medium hair cat Cherub all still remain at the shelter, with hopes they will find a home over the next week.

AWLQ communications manager Brooke Whitney said an incredible 126 animals were adopted on Saturday and a further 35 yesterday, leaving the organisation's three Queensland shelters almost empty and ready to cater for the next influx of animals.

"I've never seen the shelter so quiet ... it was kind of spooky and there were no dogs barking but it's great to see so many kennels and enclosures empty," she said.

Ms Whitney said over the weekend people from all walks of life had come in to find their perfect pet.

"We had one lady in her late 20s who adopted a 12-year-old staffy and because she had no kids she said she was going to spoil the dog rotten which is what we love to hear," she said.

"We also had older people coming in looking for companion dogs and families wanted to start fresh with a puppy or kitten.

Despite their success, Ms Whitney said the AWLQ's Gold Coast shelter still had six dogs, four cats and four kittens looking for a home, while the Beenleigh shelter had three dogs and one cat.

She also expected more animals to fill the shelters by the end of the week.

"We had an adoption sale because we were full and still had 140 kittens out on foster who will be coming through in the next few weeks to fill up the pens," she said.

"By Friday we should be full again so if people didn't find what they were looking for over the weekend they should definitely come back."