Sometimes love is right there, just for the taking.

That's what Gabriel Baca,11, discovered with his mother, Michelle, when the two walked into Petco on Cerrillos Road on a windy Saturday afternoon. Love came in the form of a silver cat named Seamus. Gabriel was quickly taken with the friendly feline and decided to make him a family member during a special joint adoption event of the Companion Animal Alliance of Northern New Mexico.

Gabriel wasn't sure what he'd do with the 18-month-old cat, but was happy to call him his friend. "I'm just going to have him," Gabriel said.

Seamus, who came in to the Santa Fe Animal Shelter & Humane Society as a stray in February, appeared relaxed and ready to start a new adventure with his new buddy. The feline was one of a handful of critters that found a permanent family during the event, one of the first for the alliance in several years.

Seven animal-welfare groups joined in the adoption event, which included alliance members from as far away as Taos, Pecos and Las Vegas, N.M. Anna Lisa Martinez of Stray Hearts Animal Shelter in Taos said the event was only the second time the group brought animals to Santa Fe for adoption. "We're hoping to come a lot more," she said.

The alliance, formed about five years ago, is a loose coalition of Northern New Mexico animal-welfare groups. Aside from networking about common problems, the coalition is working on a strategic plan to tackle animal-welfare issues through humane education, spaying and neutering and, of course, adoptions.

Multi-agency adoptions events aren't always easy. While each adult dog is usually paired with an adoption advocate, it can be a struggle to keep the canines calm among the hustle and bustle of a pet store. And then there's the heartbreak of not finding a home for a critter.

But the volunteers never lack hope or the chance to offer stories of their temporary charges.

Donna Leshne of Dew Paws Rescue brought several puppies from Valencia County Animal Control that she nursed to health. The mother was a skeleton when she was brought into the shelter, Leshne said. Animal-welfare workers did what they could to help mother and pups.

Leshne took over after two weeks, putting them on antibiotics and fluids to stave off a respiratory illness. "Some $850 later, we have fat healthy pups and a mom that finally looks like a dog, not a skeleton."

Working with others to find homes for at-risk animals is an important part of the alliance, Leshne said. "The fact that someone reaches out, we respond, get other support and together, in community, we save dogs."

Maureen O'Brien, an independent rescuer, brought in two of her most recent charges. Most in need of a home appeared to be Aloysius Milagro, a friendly Shar-pei mix who still bears the scars of a fight. The battered dog was found in the mountains of San Miguel County.

"It's a miracle he's alive," O'Brien said. "He's a very loving boy and has kisses and wags for his fellow dogs and humans. He does a 'cactus arm wiggle' on his hind feet for each person that meets him."

Tuck, another of O'Brien's rescues, a 2-year-old Chihuahua whom O'Brien refers to as a genius, is in need of serious relationship, she said. She's fostered Tuck for three months, and said he's taught her about boundaries, patience and humility.

Ann Montengro, a volunteer with the Santa Fe animal shelter, tended carefully to Santo at the event. Santo, a pit-bull mix, came to the shelter with a serious skin condition that's just about cleared up. Montenegro initially fostered Santo, and was there Saturday for his adoption.

The adoption event was a welcome happening at the store, said manager Terry Smith. She and her staff spent some time configuring a circular path in the store for people to meet and greet new friends. The weather conditions made outside adoptions impossible.

"We got the whole circle thing going," she said. "That way people can see all the animals and see what animal is best for the person and the family."

Smith, who helped coordinate Albuquerque's popular Fetchapalooza, said she hopes to create more events for Santa Fe animal-welfare groups.

"I've always been a big supporter of Felines & Friends (which maintains an adoption center at the store)," she said, "and the alliance has been wonderful. This has been a great event, and I hope we can keep doing them."