CitizensNet

July 1, 2024

BARC Houston Partners with BISSELL Pet Foundation to waive adoption fees for Empty the Shelters Campaign

BISSELL Pet Foundation, a national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending pet homelessness, is prompting a national call for adoption once again this summer with its Empty the Shelters reduced-fee adoption event in July. BARC, the City of Houston’s Animal Shelter and Adoption Facility, will participate along with more than 390 shelters in 44 states. To help deserving shelter pets find loving homes, BISSELL Pet Foundation sponsors reduced adoption fees for every cat or dog during each nationwide event.

BARC will participate July 2-31 and waive fees for all adult dogs and cats, as well as kittens. Puppies will have a reduced price of $25. BARC is closed for adoptions on Monday, however, Urgent Pets may be adopted out of our 3200 Carr St. entrance these days. Adoptions are done on a first-come, first-served basis. Adopters must be over the age of 18 and have a valid ID and proof of address to adopt. Visit www.houstontx.gov/barc/adopt_a_pet.html for more information on our adoption process. Email our adoptions team at BARCadoptions@houstontx.gov to inquire about a specific pet.

"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."

BARC's adoption center is located at 3300 Carr St. and is open:

• Noon – 5 p.m. Tuesday - Sunday
  While BARC is closed for adoptions on Mondays, Urgent Pets may be adopted out of the shelter's 3200 Carr St. entrance these days.

"Thanks to the Empty Shelters Campaign and BISSELL Pet Foundation, thousands of BARC animals have found their forever homes. This campaign comes at a critical time for BARC, as this summer our shelter has remained near capacity for both dogs and cats," said BARC Shelter Director Jarrad Mears. "As intake continues to grow every year, strategic partnerships like these are crucial to ensuring that we find positive outcomes for our shelter pets."

BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Empty the Shelters event is the largest funded adoption event in the country. This lifesaving event began in 2016 with a goal of encouraging more families to choose adoption. More than 253,000 pets have found loving homes since its inception. Empty the Shelters is BISSELL Pet Foundation’s largest program, partnering with 742 animal welfare organizations in 49 states and Canada to reduce adoption fees.

BISSELL Pet Foundation and BARC Houston urge families to research 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.houstonbarc.com.

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