Teddy Big Spring Park Empty The Shelters — How could you resist adopting from a shelter in Alabama? (Lacey Spear / The Bama Buzz)

If the idea of adopting a pet has been tugging at you, now’s the time. Empty the Shelters, a national two-week-long event, is happening at several Alabama shelters. Here’s what you need to know.

Helping Alabama shelters

Patience'S Cat — There are so many reasons to adopt a pet at Alabama shelters. (Patience Itson / The Bama Buzz)

According to Best Friends, an organization that aims to reduce pet euthanasias nationwide, released a statement in 2022 that showed how many dogs and cats had been killed at shelters that year. Unfortunately, Alabama was #6 for the most pets killed—15,422.

In addition, euthanasia rates post-Covid have been rising nationwide, according to Shelters Animal Count.

“Our nation’s animal shelters are facing an overcrowding crisis unlike anything we have experienced in more than a decade. The devastating increase in owner surrenders and stray intakes has left tens of thousands of socialized, house-trained and leash-trained pets desperate to find a home.”
Cathy Bissell, founder, BISSELL Pet Foundation

While this is a bleak outlook, there is hope. Organizations like the BISSELL Pet Foundation are working to put pets in safe, loving homes through campaigns like “Empty the Shelters.”

Empty the Shelters event

Empty the Shelters is a national event taking place at 345+ shelters in 42 states, October 1-15. Four Alabama shelters are participating:

But what exactly is Empty the Shelters? It’s the nation’s largest funded adoption event that started in 2016. Since then, it’s helped nearly 190,000 pets find homes in the US and Canada. At participating shelters, you’ll find reduced adoption fees—usually $0-$50.

“Our Fall National ‘Empty the Shelters’ will support the adoption of thousands of pets across the country, helping shelters in this critical time. Opening your home to a shelter pet saves a life and creates space to give another pet a chance.”
Cathy Bissell, founder, BISSELL Pet Foundation

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