Española Humane is one of more than 250 shelters nationwide waiving and reducing adoption fees in hopes of finding homes for pets to ease overcrowding and connecting loving pets with families as part of the BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Empty the Shelters event July 11-31.

• Española Humane will participate July 11-31, 2022, at 108 Hamm Parkway, Española, NM, 87532, offering fee-waived adoptions for adult cats and dogs, and $25 for kittens and puppies
• All interested adopters can find more details online at espanolahumane.org

“Shelters are calling me daily and BISSELL Pet Foundation is feeling the burden of overcrowding. With the euthanasia of homeless dogs up 22% in just the first quarter of 2022 alone, we knew we had to act quickly to help at-risk pets,” said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “Empty the Shelters is the largest funded adoption event in the country, and by extending the event to three weeks, we can help meet the immediate need to save lives.”

The free and reduced adoption fees also apply to off-site mobile events and foster pets, said Bridget Lindquist, the shelter’s executive director. All pets are altered, age-appropriately vaccinated, microchipped, altered and dogs come heart-wormed tested and with six months free heart-worm medication.

“Empty the Shelters events are true lifesaving opportunities for pets and the families who find their forever friends,” Lindquist said. “We are so grateful to Cathy Bissell, her foundation and her team for this national effort. They truly care.”

National surveys and studies have repeatedly shown that free or reduced fees have no impact on return rates for pets, Lindquist noted, adding that the adoption procedures do not change for any event or promotion. The events create joy and happiness and promote love. “Who doesn’t need that right now,” Lindquist said.

BISSELL Pet Foundation’s “Empty the Shelters” event is the largest funded adoption event in the country. With a goal of encouraging more families to choose adoption, this lifesaving effort has helped more than 96,000 pets find loving homes since 2016. “Empty the Shelters” is BISSELL Pet Foundation’s largest program, partnering with a total of 443 animal welfare organizations in 47 states and Canada to reduce adoption fees.

Adoption is a lifetime commitment. BISSELL Pet Foundation and Española Humane urge families to do their research about the pet they are interested in adopting, as well as adoption requirements. For more information on adopting or donating to “Empty the Shelters,” visit www.bissellpetfoundation.org/empty-the-shelters as well as espanolahumane.org.