BISSELL Pet Foundation, a national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending pet homelessness, is bringing hope to the nation’s shelter pets this holiday season with its “Empty the Shelters – Holiday Hope” adoption event Dec. 1-8. BISSELL Pet Foundation sponsors reduced adoption fees of $50 or less per cat or dog during each nationwide event. This event will be hosted in more than 380 shelters in 43 states, including the Animal Rescue League of Berks County (ARL).
ARL will participate Dec. 1-8, offering a reduced adoption fee of $50 for cats and dogs over six months of age. All adopters must go through the ARL’s regular procedures to adopt, including the completion of an adoption profile and speaking with an adoption counselor to ensure that the pet they select is a good match for their home, family, and lifestyle.
Adopters are encouraged to bring their family members and other house dogs to meet the pet they are interested in before completing the adoption. Dog adopters will also want to bring cash or a check for a $7.20 dog license, which is required at the time of adoption under PA law. Adopters will also want to bring a cat carrier (or they can purchase one from the ARL for $5) and a dog collar and leash (or they can purchase one from the ARL).
All interested adopters can visit www.berksarl.org/pets/ to view the available pets. *** Winter, Mittens, and Delta are available for adoption as of Dec. 1.
“Our nation’s animal shelters need your help as they face 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 deserving pets desperate to find a home,” said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “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 this holiday season.”
BISSELL Pet Foundation’s “Empty the Shelters” event is the largest funded adoption event in the country. This lifesaving event began in 2016 with the goal of encouraging more families to choose adoption. More than 204,000 pets have found loving homes since its inception. “Empty the Shelters” is BISSELL Pet Foundation’s largest program, partnering with 730 animal welfare organizations in 49 states and Canada to reduce adoption fees.
Pet adoption is a lifetime commitment, and not just for the holidays. BISSELL Pet Foundation and the ARL urge families to research 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 and www.berksarl.org.
The Animal Rescue League of Berks County is a charitable 501c3 organization caring for nearly 5,000 animals each year to help them find second chances in a new home or to help reunite them with their grateful owners. For over 70 years, the organization has worked tirelessly to care for the sick, treat the injured, comfort the unwanted, and protect the abused. Whether helping people in need keep their pets through surrender prevention programs, offering low-cost veterinary services and clinics, or outreach and education events throughout the county, the ARL’s work goes far beyond the walls of the shelter.
BISSELL Pet Foundation is a charitable 501©(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to help reduce the number of animals in shelters through pet adoption, spay/neuter programs, vaccinations, microchipping, and emergency support. Founded in 2011 by Cathy Bissell, BPF is an extension of her long-standing love for animals and commitment to their welfare. BPF has since partnered with more than 5,600 shelters and rescues across the U.S. and Canada to help pets find loving homes. The foundation is supported by generous donors and BISSELL Inc., where every purchase saves pets. To learn more, visit www.bissellpetfoundation.org.
