Halloween in the Algarve isn't only about costumes and sweets. On October 31, AlgarveShopping near Guia is teaming up with Animal Rescue Algarve (ARA) for an animal adoption event that could end with a very special new family member.

Dogs and cats looking for permanent homes will be waiting to meet visitors at the centre's Meeting Point on Floor 0, from 10am to 5pm. It's part of an ongoing partnership between the shopping centre and ARA, an organisation that rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes vulnerable animals across the region.

The organisers have leaned into the Halloween theme with some humour, calling the animals little four-legged 'monsters' – though there's a serious point underneath. Animal abandonment in the Algarve is a real problem, and the campaign aims to encourage people to adopt rather than buy, giving shelter animals a second chance.

If you're not in a position to take a pet home, there's plenty else happening at the centre that day. A professional make-up artist will be running a Makeup Experience from 3pm to 5pm and again from 6pm to 8pm, creating quick Halloween looks for anyone with a party or dinner planned that evening. Costumed characters will be wandering the mall between 11am and 1pm, 3pm and 5pm, and 6pm and 8pm, dishing out giveaways to surprised shoppers. And a giant pumpkin will be set up as a backdrop for spooky selfies.

For holidaymakers in the Algarve at the end of October, it's a fun, low-key way to spend a few hours – and even if you can't adopt, animal charities like ARA often welcome donations, volunteers or help spreading the word about animals still waiting for homes.

Do think carefully before committing, though. Rescue dogs and cats, especially those from difficult backgrounds, need time, patience and a stable home. But for anyone who was already considering getting a pet, meeting animals in person at an event like this is a far better starting point than scrolling through listings online.

AlgarveShopping is easy to reach from Albufeira and the surrounding resorts, making it a convenient stop during a late-October break in the region – combining a spot of shopping, some Halloween entertainment and, perhaps, a life-changing meeting with a four-legged friend.

Reported by Portugal Resident.