BARC, the City of Houston’s Animal Shelter and Adoption Center, and the BISSELL Pet Foundation are excited to announce the winter 2021 national “Empty the Shelters – Holiday Hope” adoption event through Sunday, December 19. This quarterly effort has helped more than 61,781 pets find their forever homes in area shelters. During each nationwide event, BISSELL Pet Foundation helps sponsor reduced adoption fees for shelter dogs, cats, puppies and kittens. This winter’s event will be hosted in more than 180 shelters in 35 states, including BARC Houston.
For the 2021 winter campaign, BARC will offer $10 adoption fees through December 19 for all pets already spayed or neutered. Stop by BARC’s Adoption Center at 3300 Carr St. anytime from 12 – 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday or visit http://www.houstontx.gov/barc/adopt_a_pet.html to see our adoptable pets.
The “Empty the Shelters” event began in 2016 as an effort to encourage more families to adopt a pet into their home. Nearly 68,000 pets have found adoptive homes through this reduced-fee adoption event. Since its inception, BISSELL Pet Foundation has expanded its “Empty the Shelters” reach to organizations in 45 states and Canada, partnering with a total of 443 animal welfare organizations. In the fall 2021 Empty the Shelters Campaign, BARC adopted out a total of 67 pets.
“Shelters are overcrowded and in desperate need of support due to slowed adoption rates and increased length of stay for pets,” said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “With so many people seeking to add pets to their family around this time of year, our ‘Empty the Shelters – Holiday Hope’ event is the perfect opportunity to make a difference in your community by saving a life and creating space to give another homeless pet a chance.”
“We are excited to work with Bissell Pet Foundation this year to get as many pets as possible adopted and into forever homes,” said Greg Damianoff, Director of BARC Animal Shelter & Adoptions.
For more information on adopting or donating to “Empty the Shelters,” visit www.bissellpetfoundation.org/empty-the-shelters as well as www.houstonbarc.com.
About BARC
BARC, the City of Houston’s Animal Shelter and Adoption Center, takes in more than 25,000 animals annually regardless of behavior, breed, or medical condition. BARC works each day to improve Houstonians and their pets’ health and safety by pioneering programs such as low-cost and no-cost spay/neuter services, mobile adoptions, transfer/rescue partnerships, and community outreach.
Through these programs and with community partners’ support, BARC’s live release rate has continued to improve and reached a historic high of 95.9% in the fiscal year 2021.
Visit www.houstonbarc.com or www.Facebook.com/BARCHouston for more information.