South Bay dog lovers can meet adoptable rescue pups on Saturday, August 1, when JustFoodForDogs and Pug Nation Rescue of Los Angeles host a free DOGust adoption pop-up at 1605 N. Sepulveda Blvd. in Manhattan Beach.

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Anyone who adopts a dog on site will receive a $50 JustFoodForDogs gift card for fresh pet food.

No registration is required.

DOGust, created by North Shore Animal League America and observed annually since 2008, designates August 1 as the universal birthday for shelter and rescue dogs whose actual birth dates are unknown. JustFoodForDogs is marking the occasion by partnering with Pug Nation, a Gardena-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes hundreds of pugs across Southern California each year.

A JustFoodForDogs spokesperson told Manhattan Beach News that community adoption events help connect people with dogs they might not otherwise meet, raising awareness and increasing the chances of a successful placement.

Pug Nation, which holds at least two adoption fairs per month and runs on a seven-member board and volunteer support, will bring adoptable dogs and rescue experts to answer questions about the adoption process. Organizers say the event is open to anyone curious about rescue dogs, even those not yet ready to commit.

The $50 gift card is meant to help cover fresh food during a new dog's transition home, organizers said.

The store is on Sepulveda Boulevard just south of Artesia Boulevard.