Clear the Shelters is this Saturday, and we wanted to share some tips for everyone who wants to be an adoption superhero by joining us on August 17 to find their newest family member.  During Clear the Shelters, adoption fees will be waived on all adoptable animals, which makes this one of our busiest days of the year, so we will be opening early at 11:00 a.m. to accommodate all of our extra visitors.

We’ve been asked if “Adoption Fee-Waived” events like Clear the Shelters are a safe way to find homes for animals, and it’s a question we take very seriously.  As dedicated animal lovers, we want to make sure that we’re doing the best for the animals in our care, during Clear the Shelters and every day of the year. Read more about Why We Waive.

Please note that while adoption fees are waived, standard adoption policies and procedures still apply; click HERE to learn more.

About Clear the Shelters

In 2018, over 50 animals were adopted, and we hope to find homes for even more animals this year.  Even if you aren’t adopting a pet on August 17, you can still be part of the success of Clear the Shelters.  We will be waiving adoption fees, but we recognize that the care and treatment of our adoptable animals has costs, like medical exams and vaccinations, food, microchipping and more.  Please consider pledging to Clear It Forward to help us defray some of these expenses, so we can help adoptable animals not only on August 17 but every day of the year.  Whether you choose to donate an amount per animal adopted or pledge a fixed amount, your donation will help us continue to support our adoptable animals all year long.

How It Works on Saturday

If you are planning to join us on Saturday, please read below for more information on how Clear the Shelters will work:

We will be hosting a yard sale beginning at 9:00 a.m. with all types of supplies you might want for your new pet, so stop by early for crates, carriers and more.

We will also be hosting a bake sale, so if you are planning to stake out your spot in line, you can get cold drinks and tasty goodies for your wait. 

Please keep in mind that it might be hot and/or rainy that day, so come prepared to wait outside, including supplies you might need to stay cool and/or dry.  For safety reasons, we may only allow a certain number of visitors in the shelter at one time, meaning new arrivals will need to wait for others to leave before they can enter.

Due to the number of visitors expected, our parking lot may be full when you arrive. Additional parking will be available at Joseph Hensley Park (4200 Eisenhower Avenue, across the street and slightly west of the shelter), and you can park there in the event the shelter lot is full.

When you arrive, you will be given a form with your number in line and an Adopter Survey to complete.  This will speed up the process of meeting your new best friend once you’re in the shelter.  If you have animals you are interested in meeting, you can note them on the form at that time.

Check out our website before you arrive and while you’re waiting in line to see who will be available for adoption during Clear the Shelters. Otherwise, you can add the names of the animals you’d like to meet/adopt as you see them in the building.

If you are waiting in line, we will have a board outside that lists where you can find animals in the shelter, animals who are in meetings with potential adopters and animals who have been adopted. You can also see the progress of who is being adopted on our home page. 

Adoptions (and in the case of dogs, visits with potential adoptees) will occur based on the order of the sign-in sheet at the adoptions desk by the cat area, not your place in line.  We will schedule visits with dogs and adoptions consultations as the names are listed on the sign-in sheet, rather than the order of arrival.

If you already have a dog at home that you want to introduce to your newest family member, they do not need to wait in line with you.  Dog-to-dog meetings will take place between 12:30-1:30 p.m., 2-3 p.m., and 3:30-4:30 p.m. and you will receive your dog meeting time slot after you first meet with an adoptable dog, so you can bring your current dog later in the day.  A hold will be placed on that dog until the meeting can occur. Given the summer temperatures, we strongly encourage you to keep your current pups at home until your arranged dog meeting time!

Not all of our adoptable animals are at the shelter! Don’t forget to check out our foster feature at the front desk to see if your new best friend might be with one of our foster families.  The adoption fees for animals in foster care are also waived as part of Clear the Shelters, and some of our fosters are available for home visits that day!

After you have selected an animal you want to adopt, sign in for an Adoption Consultation at the adoptions desk.  Our staff will be meeting with many potential adopters all day, so stay close to hear your name when it’s called. If everything goes well with your Adoption Consultation and your chosen pet is spayed/neutered, then he/she will be ready to leave with you today.

All of our Adoption Forms take just a few minutes to complete, and you will receive yours to complete while you’re waiting in line.  You can see our Adoption Surveys for our Dogs, Cats and Small Animals so you know what types of questions we’ll be asking.

If the pet is not yet spayed/neutered, we will hold him/her at no cost to you until the surgery can take place, and you can pick up your pet after the surgery is complete.

All dogs will need a flat (not extendable) leash before they leave us on Saturday, and all cats and small animals will need to travel home in a carrier.  You can bring your own carrier with you or purchase them from us onsite on Saturday. Used carriers will also be available as part of our yard sale.

Track Adoptions Live August 17

You can follow our Clear the Shelters adoptions live on August 17 on our home page, beginning at 11:00 a.m., so whether you join us in person or online, thank you for helping us Clear the Shelters!

 

Please note that in anticipation of Clearing Our Shelter, we will be CLOSED FOR ADOPTIONS and ANIMAL VISITING from Sunday, August 18, through Wednesday, August 21.  We will be open for business like licensing, stray animals and surrenders during regular business hours over those days.