‘Empty The Shelters’ Animal Adoption Day Dec. 14 In Chicago

CHICAGO, IL — If you’re planning to add a cat or dog to your family this holiday season, you might consider waiting for reduced adoption fees during the “Empty the Shelters — Holiday Hope” adoption event across the Chicago area on Saturday, Dec. 14. You’ll want to start the process now, though, to make sure you’re pre-approved to bring a pet into your home by the time adoption day rolls around.

Participating shelters in the Chicago area include:

• St Clair County Animal Adoption Center: 1250 S. 11th Street Road, Belleville, IL 62226
• Quincy Humane Society: 1705 N. 36th Street, Quincy, IL 62301; phone: 217-223-8786
• Winnebago County Animal Services: 4517 N. Main Street, Rockford, IL, 61103
• Winnebago County Animal Services— Petsmart: 526 West Lane Road, Machesney Park, IL
• Heartland Animal Shelter: 2975 Milwaukee Avenue, Northbrook, IL 60062
• One Tail at a Time: 2144 N Wood Street, Chicago, IL 60614
• Orphans of the Storm: 2200 Riverwoods Road, Riverwoods, IL 60015 (847) 945-0235

Nationwide, nearly 120 shelters in 22 states are reducing adoption fees during the Empty the Shelters event, sponsored by the nonprofit Bissell Pet Foundation. The pets will be micro chipped and spayed or neutered.

Because adopting a pet is a lifetime commitment, shelters like Orphans of the Storm in Riverwoods place a priority on finding loving homes. Many shelters require a pre-approval process, which may include an in-person visit. Pets at the participating shelters are available for adoption in the days leading up to the Empty the Shelter day — or days — so if you’ve already met the right pet for your family, Bissell Pet Foundation recommends going ahead and making that commitment now.

The goal of Bissell Pet Foundation is to help end pet homelessness. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimates 6.5 million pets go to shelters every year in the United States.

“To permanently end the homeless pet problem, everyone across the country needs to understand that there are beautiful, worthy animals in shelters who should be the first choice when bringing a pet into your home,” Cathy Bissell, the organization’s founder, said in a news release. “You will get the most loving pet who will literally change your life because it’s so grateful to be loved. I want every person to know they can be part of the solution if they adopt a shelter pet.”
Since the foundation’s first Empty the Shelters event in 2016, nearly 27,000 pets have been adopted. The pet foundation is a charity of Bissell Homecare Inc., a manufacturer of floor-care products.