Emerald Coast Times

As our nation’s shelters face unprecedented overcrowding, BISSELL Pet Foundation is doing its part to take homeless pets from kennels to couches by sponsoring reduced adoption fees from July 11 – 31. The longest-ever Summer National “Empty the Shelters” event will be hosted in more than 250 shelters in 42 states, including Santa Rosa County (SRC) Animal Services.

SRC Animal Services will participate July 11-31, 2022, at 4451 Pine Forest Road in Milton, offering $5 adoption fees for cats, kittens, dogs and puppies. All interested adopters can find more details online at www.santarosa.fl.gov/animals.

“Shelters are calling me daily and BISSELL Pet Foundation is feeling the burden of overcrowding. With the euthanasia of homeless dogs up 22% in just the first quarter of 2022 alone, we knew we had to act quickly to help at-risk pets,” said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “Empty the Shelters is the largest funded adoption event in the country, and by extending the event to three weeks, we can help meet the immediate need to save lives.”

SRC Animal Services has participated in the Empty the Shelter events several times in the past year, finding homes for dozens of the community's homeless animals. 

"Our partner BISSELL is stepping up again to make a huge impact to help find furever homes for our four-legged friends," said Santa Rosa County Animal Services Director, Randy Lambert. 

BISSELL Pet Foundation’s “Empty the Shelters” event is the largest funded adoption event in the country. With the goal of encouraging more families to choose adoption, this lifesaving effort has helped more than 96,000 pets find loving homes since 2016. “Empty the Shelters” is BISSELL Pet Foundation’s largest program, partnering with a total of 443 animal welfare organizations in 47 states and Canada to reduce adoption fees.

Adoption is a lifetime commitment. BISSELL Pet Foundation and SRC Animal Services urge families to do their research about the pet they are interested in adopting, as well as adoption requirements. For more information on adopting or donating to “Empty the Shelters,” visit www.bissellpetfoundation.org/empty-the-shelters and www.santarosa.fl.gov/animals.

_{Source:  https://www.santarosa.fl.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=703}