Help “Clear the Shelters” During the 2025 National Adoption Event

It’s that time of year again: Every August, more than a thousand animal shelters and rescue organizations across the country unite for “Clear the Shelters,” a nationwide campaign dedicated to helping pets in need find loving, permanent homes. Now entering its 11th consecutive year, the initiative began in 2015 after a highly successful local pet adoption event in Texas inspired NBCUniversal Local to launch it nationally.

A joyful family meeting their newly adopted dog at an outdoor shelter event with banners reading 'Clear the Shelters'

Since its inception, over one million pets have found their forever families through Clear the Shelters. In 2024 alone, the campaign facilitated more than 170,000 adoptions and raised over $500,000 in support of shelters’ life-saving work—marking a powerful milestone for its 10th anniversary.

Clear the Shelters 2025

This year’s month-long effort runs from August 1 through August 31, 2025. Participating shelters and humane groups—including many partnered with furpetvo.com—will host both in-person and virtual adoption events. To lower barriers to adoption, many locations will reduce or waive adoption fees entirely. Virtual adoptions return for the fifth year in a row, expanding access for adopters across all regions.

Local affiliate stations will spotlight these efforts—highlighting both the challenges shelter animals face and the heartwarming success stories made possible by community support. That visibility helps drive awareness, resources, and compassion toward shelters doing vital work every day.

A few standout participating rescues include:

  • Stray Cat Alliance: Focuses on cat adoption, Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), and community support. In 2022, they placed 1,600 cats into loving homes, managed feral colonies through TNR, distributed food donations, and cared for newborn kittens transferred from overcrowded shelters.
  • Renegade Paws Rescue: Serves dogs and cats in the Coastal Empire and surrounding areas who have been abandoned, abused, or injured. Since launching in 2019, they’ve saved over 3,000 lives.
  • Muttville: Specializes in senior and underrepresented dogs, offering medical care, foster placements, and compassionate outreach. To date, they’ve helped more than 10,000 older dogs find joyful, dignified second chapters.

Looking to adopt? Use the FurPetVo shelter locator to find a participating organization near you.

Can’t adopt? Donate or volunteer

Every contribution makes a difference—even if you’re not ready to bring a pet home. The 2025 Clear the Shelters campaign will once again feature online fundraising through Greater Good Charities. Donations can be directed to specific shelters or rescues via furpetvo.com, ensuring support reaches the organizations and animals who need it most.

Volunteering is another impactful way to help. Whether you assist at adoption events, transport animals, foster temporarily, or lend your skills behind the scenes, your time strengthens the entire ecosystem of care.

Volunteers smiling while walking multiple leashed dogs at a sunny park during a Clear the Shelters community walk

Whether you're considering adopting a dog, bringing home a kitten, or simply love cheering on happy endings—visit your local Clear the Shelters event this August. And before you adopt, get prepared with FurPetVo’s free new kitten checklist and new puppy checklist.