The BISSELL Pet Foundation is urging a national call for pet adoption this summer with its Empty the Shelters event, running from July 8 to 31. Maricopa County Animal Care & Control (MCACC) will kick off the event early, starting on July 3, by waiving adoption fees for dogs aged six months and older through the end of the month.
MCACC is among more than 390 shelters across 44 states participating in this year’s Empty the Shelters initiative. Sponsored by the BISSELL Pet Foundation, the event reduces adoption fees to $50 or less per pet, making it more accessible for families to welcome a new cat or dog into their homes.
The fee waiver at MCACC applies at both of its shelter locations:
West Shelter: 2500 S. 27th Avenue, Phoenix
East Shelter: 1920 S. Lewis, Mesa
Additionally, dogs available for adoption at Heidi’s Village, located at 600 N. 40th Street in Phoenix, will also have their fees waived. Adoption hours are from 12 PM to 6 PM on weekdays and from 12 PM to 5 PM on weekends, with special hours of 12 PM to 4 PM on Independence Day.
“Many shelters are currently facing severe challenges, such as evacuations due to wildfires, tornadoes, and extreme heat, or dealing with overcrowding that forces them to euthanize highly adoptable pets,” said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “The upcoming Empty the Shelters event is a vital opportunity for communities to help by adopting. Each adoption saves a life and opens space for another pet in need. If you can’t adopt, fostering can also make a significant impact.”
In June’s Empty the Shelters event, MCACC successfully found homes for 783 dogs.
“Capacity is a major concern, especially with the 4th of July approaching, which is typically a busy time for shelters,” said Kim Powell, MCACC’s Communications Supervisor. “We’re excited for another successful event and grateful to the BISSELL Pet Foundation for allowing us to start early.”
The Empty the Shelters event, the largest funded adoption initiative in the country, began in 2016 with the goal of encouraging pet adoption. Since then, more than 253,000 pets have found loving homes. The program partners with 742 animal welfare organizations across 49 states and Canada to reduce adoption fees and promote pet adoption.
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