Find Your Best Friend At Harford County's Empty The Shelters Event July 8-31

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — As shelters across the country report being full beyond capacity with pets in need of new homes, the Humane Society of Harford County will be participating in a nationwide pet adoption event with reduced fees.

The Empty the Shelters event, organized by the Bissell Pet Foundation, runs July 8-31. HSHC will be among 390 shelters in 44 states whose $50 dog and $20 cat adoption fees (excluding puppies and kittens) will be covered the Bissell Pet Foundation as a way to help more animals find loving homes.

“Shelters are struggling with a variety of challenges right now - some are evacuating pets because of wildfires, tornadoes, or even loss of air conditioning in extreme heat, and others are overcrowded and having to euthanize highly adoptable pets to make space, a tragic situation," said Cathy Bissell, founder of Bissell Pet Foundation. "Bissell Pet Foundation's upcoming Summer National Empty the Shelters event is a crucial opportunity for people to make a real difference in their community through adoption. Every single adoption saves a life and creates space to save another. Please adopt and give a pet a chance it might otherwise not have. If you can't adopt, fostering saves lives when shelters are full. Deserving pets across the country are counting on all of us.”

During the 24-day mega adoption event, HSHC will be open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its 2208 Connolly Road location in Fallston. Although adoption fees are reduced, regular adoption procedures apply.

“Last summer during Empty the Shelters, 65 dogs and cats were adopted in a little over three weeks,” said Bob Citrullo, executive director of the HSHC. “Our team is very excited to welcome visitors to the shelter, introduce them to our animals and help them take home their next new family member.”

Animals adopted from HSHC are spayed or neutered prior to adoption and also include all appropriate vaccinations and testing for communicable diseases, de-wormer, flea and tick preventative, a microchip, a free sample bag of pet food and a general exam.

View HSHC animals’ photos and profiles and complete an adoption application in advance by visiting www.harfordshelter.org/animals.