Virginia Animal Shelters Reduce Adoption Fees in December

With the holiday season upon us, no pet should have to be without a family to call their own. To ensure pets get a chance to go from shelter kennels to the cozy couches of loving homes, BISSELL Pet Foundation is hosting its Empty the Shelters™ – Holiday Hope reduced-fee adoption event from Dec. 1 – 17, including your area shelters:

1. Alleghany Humane Society
2. Animal Welfare League Of Arlington
3. Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA
4. Chesapeake Humane Society
5. Fluvanna SPCA
6. Fredericksburg SPCA
7. Homeward Trails Animal Rescue
8. Humane Society of Warren County
9. Lynchburg Humane Society
10. Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter
11. Pittsylvania Pet Center
12. Regional Center for Animal Care and Protection
13. Richmond SPCA
14. Rockingham-Harrisonburg SPCA
15. SPCA of Winchester, Frederick, and Clarke Counties

Below is the media alert with details about this nationwide event. View all participating shelters via the interactive map to find more information about your local participating shelters, gather specific event details, view adoptable pets, and more.

BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Empty the Shelters™ – Holiday Hope Event

WHAT: BISSELL Pet Foundation is bringing hope to homeless pets this holiday season with its Empty the Shelters™ – Holiday Hope reduced-fee adoption event Dec. 1 – 17, 2024 at more than 400 organizations in 45 states. This effort has helped  more than 300,000 pets find loving homes, making Empty the Shelters the largest funded adoption event in the country. During each nationwide event, BISSELL Pet Foundation sponsors reduced adoption fees so shelters can charge $50 or less to take deserving pets from kennels to the couches of loving homes.

WHEN: December 1 – 17, 2024 – Participation dates vary by shelter. Potential adopters are encouraged to visit the “Empty the Shelters” website to find the nearest participating shelter and confirm adoption day details.

WHERE: 400+ shelters in 45 states

View our interactive map to see all participants. Please filter by state or zip code for best results.

WHO:  BISSELL Pet Foundation, a national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending pet homelessness, is partnering with animal shelters across the country for its Empty the Shelters—Holiday Hope reduced-fee adoption event. By supporting participating organizations with reimbursement for each pet adopted, adoptive families pay no more than $50 to bring home a fully vaccinated, microchipped and spayed or neutered pet.

QUOTE: “It has been an incredibly challenging year for saving lives, as our nation’s shelters continue to take in
more pets than they are adopting out. Tens of thousands of shelter pets—of all breeds, ages, and personalities—are desperately in need of homes,” said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “Empty the Shelters – Holiday Hope is more than an adoption event; it’s a lifeline for homeless pets. Please visit your local participating shelter to adopt or foster a pet this holiday season.”

DETAILS: Below are some talking points and additional facts about BISSELL Pet Foundation:

• • • BISSELL Pet Foundation was founded in 2011 by Cathy Bissell, and its work has touched the lives of more than 885,000 pets and counting.
    • Empty the Shelters is the nation’s largest funded adoption event. More than 300,000 pets have found loving homes across the country and in Canada since its inception in 2016.
    • Empty the Shelters provides reduced adoption fees at shelters, typically ranging from $0 to $50 per animal adoption.
    • Overwhelmed shelters need community support. Get involved by adopting, fostering, volunteering or donating.
    • Although pets can feel like a gift in terms of the joy they bring to life, BISSELL Pet Foundation reminds prospective pet parents that adopting a pet is a long-term commitment.