The BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Empty the Shelters initiative has returned to the Brookhaven Animal Rescue League (BARL), offering reduced adoption fees for animals in need of homes through Dec. 15. The Holiday Hope window is intended to speed placements before the end of the year and to help shelters manage capacity during a traditionally busy season.

The national program has enabled BARL to lower fees so more pets can leave shelters for permanent homes. As part of the adoption package, animals are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped before they go home. Locally, BARL has set the reduced fee at $35 for both dogs and cats; the rescue is one of more than 300 shelters across the country participating in the event.

Cathy Bissell, founder of the BISSELL Pet Foundation, said the campaign responds to mounting strain on shelters. “This year has placed enormous pressure on shelters across the country, as more families face financial hardship and housing changes that force them to surrender beloved pets,” she said. “Our Empty the Shelters Holiday Hope event is a chance for all of us to end the year by giving shelter pets what they deserve most: a loving home.”

Organizers and shelter advocates note that reduced or waived adoption fees during events such as Empty the Shelters are associated with a significant increase in the number and speed of adoptions, helping reduce crowding and euthanasia risk in shelters. Research summarized by national groups including the ASPCA and Human Animal Support Services supports the idea that temporary fee reductions can shift adopter behavior and accelerate placements.

Those gains have broader context: according to recent national data compiled by Shelter Animals Count and summarized by Insurify, about 56–61% of animals entering U.S. shelters are adopted into new homes each year, depending on the species and year examined. In the same analysis, adoption represents roughly 56% of all possible shelter outcomes, with other outcomes including returns to owners, transfers and euthanasia. What percentage of animals in shelters typically find homes each year?

BARL and other organizations use the early-December window to move as many animals as possible into stable homes. Local shelter staff and volunteers coordinate intake, meet-and-greets and paperwork; volunteers and community partners also donate time and supplies, transport animals and assist with outreach to maximize placements. Individuals who cannot adopt can still support local shelters by volunteering their time for animal care, administrative tasks, events or transportation, and by donating money or needed supplies such as food, bedding, litter and cleaning products. They can also foster animals or promote shelter pets through their social networks to increase visibility.

Beyond individual shelter efforts, national and local groups provide resources and guidance on how to support shelters effectively. BARL’s reduced-fee campaign is part of a coordinated push during the Empty the Shelters Holiday Hope window to reduce kennel crowding and lower intake backlogs. Research and shelter organizations point to practical ways communities can help: volunteers, donors and fosters all play roles in helping facilities manage intake and care. More information on economic impacts and practical support is available from Faunalytics and Mighty Paw.

The empty-the-shelters promotion at BARL runs through Dec. 15. Prospective adopters should contact the Brookhaven Animal Rescue League directly for current hours, availability and adoption procedures, and to confirm which animals are participating in the promotion. For many shelters, short-term fee reductions are an effective tool to move animals into homes more quickly while ensuring pets receive core veterinary care before adoption.

Original reporting: view the original article.