Miami-Dade County Animal Services joins BISSELL Pet Foundation for "Empty the Shelters" national adoption event

Miami-Dade County Animal Services (Animal Services) is thrilled to partner with the BISSELL Pet Foundation, a leading national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending pet homelessness, for the spring "Empty the Shelters" national adoption event. From May 1st to May 15th, BISSELL Pet Foundation's Spring National "Empty the Shelters" initiative will sponsor pet adoptions at over 410 shelters across 43 states. During the Empty the Shelters event, Animal Services will waive adoption fees for pets four months and older, while adopters will be responsible for a $30 tag fee. For those adopting puppies, the adoption fee will be $85, and for kittens, it will be $35. All pets adopted are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. 
 
"Our nation’s animal shelters are facing a capacity crisis and need your help now. Adoptions have slowed while a surge in owner surrenders due to families facing economic and housing challenges has left tens of thousands of highly adoptable pets desperate to find homes," said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. "Our Spring National ‘Empty the Shelters' will support the adoption of thousands of pets across the country, helping shelters in this critical time. Opening your home to a shelter pet saves a life and creates lifesaving space to help another pet in need."

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 226, 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.

In December of 2024, Animal Services actively participated in the "Empty the Shelters" campaign, resulting in an impressive 100 pets finding their forever homes. Despite this success, larger dogs still face challenges in finding adoptive families and often spend extended periods in shelters awaiting loving homes. Animal Services recognizes the immense love and companionship that medium and large dogs have to offer and encourages the public to consider opening their hearts and homes to these wonderful animals. By waiving adoption fees for these pets, Animal Services hopes to motivate more people to adopt and give these wonderful pets the forever homes they deserve.

BISSELL Pet Foundation and 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 as well as www.miamidade.gov/animals

About BISSELL Pet Foundation:
BISSELL Pet Foundation is a charitable 501©(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to help reduce the number of animals in shelters through pet adoption, spay/neuter programs, microchipping, and crisis and disaster response. Founded in 2011 by Cathy Bissell, BPF is an extension of her long-standing love for animals and commitment to their welfare. BPF has since partnered with more than 5,700 shelters and rescues across the U.S. and Canada to help pets find loving homes. The foundation is supported by generous donors and BISSELL Homecare, Inc., where every purchase saves pets. To learn more, visit www.bissellpetfoundation.org.

About Miami-Dade County Animal Services:
Every year Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department (Animal Services) takes in approximately 30,000 to 36,000 lost, abandoned, injured, ill, or abused dogs and cats. Every day, Animal Services staff works diligently to find life-long homes for these abandoned animals by facilitating onsite adoptions, hosting offsite adoptions at events and locations throughout the community, and working collaboratively with rescue organizations, volunteers, and adoption partners.