$50 Adoption Fees For All Dogs And Cats

SANTA CRUZ, CA — Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is offering $50 adoption fees for dogs and cats of all ages and breeds through Dec.17 at the 1001 Rodriguez St. Location.

BISSELL Pet Foundation, a national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending pet homelessness, is bringing holiday hope to homeless pets by prompting a national call for adoption with its Empty the Shelter reduced-fee adoption event.

More than 400 shelters in 45 states are participating. To help deserving shelter pets find loving homes, BISSELL Pet Foundation is sponsoring shelters to allow reduced adoption fees of just $50 per cat or dog during this nationwide event.

Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is open every day from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Available dogs and cats pets can be seen at the shelter's website.

"This is the first time our shelter has participated in this nationwide effort," said Amber Rowland, general manager of Santa Cruz County Animal Services Authority. "On average, only 15% - 20% of people who have pets get them from animal shelters. Events like Empty the Shelters allow us to get the word out to a broader audience, letting them know that they can find a selection of wonderful, healthy companions at their local shelter and that the low adoption fees include spay or neuter, vaccination, and microchipping, which can be very costly if obtained separately."

Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation, said it's been an incredibly challenging year for saving lives, as the nation's shelters continue to take in more pets than they are adopting out.

"Tens of thousands of shelter pets — of all breeds, ages, and personalities — are desperately in need of homes," said Bissell. "Empty the Shelters - Holiday Hope is more than an adoption event; it's a lifeline for shelter pets."

The event began in 2016 to encourage more families to choose adoption. More than 300,000 pets have found loving homes since its inception.

Empty the Shelters is BISSELL Pet Foundation's largest program, partnering with 800 animal welfare organizations in 48 states and Canada to reduce adoption fees.

Learn more about Empty the Shelters and Santa Cruz Animal Shelter.

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