Blog
Clear the Shelter Month: Why Now Is the Perfect…
Clear the Shelter Month: Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Adopt a Pet
August is Clear the Shelter Month—a nationwide initiative that aims to find loving, forever homes for animals in need. Across the country, shelters and rescue organizations lower or waive adoption fees, extend hours, and highlight their adoptable animals to encourage the public to give pets a second chance at life. If you’ve been thinking about adding a furry friend to your family, now is the perfect time.
Clear the Shelter Month is more than just a feel-good campaign. It’s a vital response to an ongoing crisis in animal shelters, where overcrowding, underfunding, and increasing surrender rates put pets at risk every day. If you’ve been thinking about adopting a pet, there’s truly no better time than now.
Why Clear the Shelter Month Matters
Animal shelters across the U.S. are often filled to capacity, especially during the summer months. Spring and summer are peak breeding seasons, leading to an influx of litters of kittens and puppies. At the same time, shelters often take in strays, surrendered pets, and animals rescued from difficult situations. With so many animals needing care, space, and attention, shelters can quickly become overwhelmed.
In recent years, many shelters have also been dealing with staff shortages, rising costs, and more animals being returned post-pandemic. The combination of these challenges means animals are spending longer in shelters, and space is running out.
Clear the Shelter Month helps relieve that pressure by getting animals adopted faster, making room for more pets in need, and giving every animal a better shot at finding a forever home. It’s not just about numbers—it’s about saving lives.
Why Should You Consider Adopting from a Shelter
When you adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue, you’re doing more than just finding a companion—you’re giving that animal a second chance at life. But adoption doesn’t only benefit the animal. The positive effects ripple through families, communities, and even the adopter’s own health and happiness.
1. You’re Saving a Life
Adopting means removing an animal from a crowded shelter, where resources are often limited. In some shelters, especially those that are underfunded or rural, space constraints can sadly lead to euthanasia. Adoption gives a pet the opportunity to live, grow, and be loved.
2. You’re Gaining a Loyal Friend
Rescue animals often show immense gratitude to those who give them a home. Whether it’s a dog who follows you everywhere or a cat who curls up beside you at night, adopted pets form deep, lasting bonds with their people. They know they’ve been given a second chance.
3. It Can Save You Money
Most shelters include spay/neuter surgery, microchipping, and core vaccinations in the adoption fee. During Clear the Shelter Month, these fees are often reduced or waived completely. Compared to the cost of buying a pet from a breeder and then covering those medical needs separately, adopting is a smart and compassionate choice.
4. You’re Supporting Ethical Practices
Adoption helps fight against puppy mills and unethical breeders who often prioritize profit over animal welfare. When you adopt, you’re choosing compassion over commerce and supporting organizations that prioritize the health and well-being of animals.
How to Prepare for Adoption
Thinking about adding a furry friend to your family? Here are a few steps to ensure you’re ready to make the most of Clear the Shelter Month:
1. Consider Your Lifestyle
Are you an active person looking for a hiking buddy? Or do you prefer quiet evenings and cuddle time? Consider your daily routine, work schedule, and energy level when choosing a pet. It’s important to find an animal whose needs and personality match your lifestyle.
2. Think Long-Term
Pets are a long-term commitment. Dogs and cats can live 10–20 years (or more), and they’ll need care every step of the way. Be prepared for vet visits, training, food, grooming, and plenty of time and attention. Your decision to adopt should be one you’re ready to embrace for life.
3. Visit and Ask Questions
Visit local shelters, meet available pets, and ask the staff for help. Shelter employees and volunteers know their animals well and can guide you toward a pet that fits your home. Don’t hesitate to ask about a pet’s behavior, medical needs, or personality quirks—this information helps ensure a successful match.
4. Be Patient with the Transition
Going from a shelter to a new home can be overwhelming for a pet. It may take days or weeks for them to feel safe and settle in. Provide a calm, consistent environment, and give them space to decompress. With time and love, your new companion will thrive.
If You Can’t Adopt, You Can Still Help
Not everyone is in a position to adopt a pet right now—and that’s okay! There are still plenty of ways to make a difference during Clear the Shelter Month:
• Foster a Pet: Fostering provides a temporary home for a shelter animal and helps free up space. It also gives the animal a chance to experience life in a home while waiting for adoption.
• Donate: Shelters rely on donations to cover food, supplies, and medical care. Every dollar counts—whether it’s a one-time gift or a monthly contribution.
• Volunteer: Lend your time walking dogs, cuddling cats, cleaning kennels, or helping with events. Volunteering not only helps the animals—it’s incredibly rewarding.
• Spread the Word: Share adoptable pets and Clear the Shelter events on social media. You never know who might be looking for a new furry family member.
Take Action: Be a Hero This August
Across the country, families who adopt during Clear the Shelter Month report joyful and inspiring experiences. Dogs once abandoned are now trusted companions. Shy cats blossom into snuggly lap warmers. Older pets, often overlooked, find homes that cherish their gentle spirits.
Clear the Shelter Month is your chance to make a difference. Whether you bring home a new best friend, donate supplies, or simply tell someone about the campaign, your actions can help change the future for animals in need.
So this August, visit your local shelter. Take a look at the faces waiting behind the kennels. One of them might be the pet you didn’t know your heart was missing. And when you adopt, you’re not just rescuing a pet—you’re gaining a lifetime of love.
Find a Shelter Near You
Visit www.cleartheshelters.com to find participating shelters, view adoptable animals, and learn how to get involved.
Click here for more about adopting a pet from a shelter.
Adopt. Save a life.
