The SPCA of Wake County set a record for adoptions for the second year in a row during Clear the Shelters adoption event.
In eight hours, we sent home 97 pets - 28 kittens, 22 cats, 11 puppies, 28 dogs, 2 rabbits, and 2 guinea pigs! We also matched four heartworm positive dogs with new families. The families will "foster" them and finalize adoption once the dogs complete heartworm treatment.
Clear the Shelters is an NBCUniversal initiative in which shelters waive adoption fees on one day in hopes of clearing out facilities and sending as many pets to forever homes as possible.
The SPCA of Wake County, along with eight other shelters and rescues in the Triangle area joined together with WRAL-TV, Mix 101.5 and the Humane Society of the United States for the August 19th event.
We opened our doors at 10a.m., but had some people waiting in the parking lot as early as 6:30a.m.
WRAL-TV broadcast live during the morning newscast from the SPCA as we shared a look inside our Adoption Center and introduced some of our adoptable pets.
Despite the high temperatures, we had a line of people wrapped around the side of the Adoption Center, eager to find their forever pet. The SPCA provided bottled water, chairs and fans on the front porch to help families stay cool.
By 2p.m., we had cleared our Holding Center! This is the building where our animals first enter the SPCA adoption program and are evaluated and wait until space opens up at the Adoption Center. Clearing out the Holding Center means we are now able to go back out into the community and work with other area shelters and rescues to take in some of their animals. This creates a ripple effect so that those rescues can also bring in more homeless pets and together we all can save more lives.
During the 2016 Clear the Shelters event, we adopted out 88 animals. We are thrilled to have increased our adoptions at this year's event.
We hope as these newly expanded families share their stories of adoption, they will encourage others to consider adopting an animal. See video and photos below. You can also see our full photo album on our Facebook page.
The SPCA of Wake County is a private non-profit organization that relies on donations to provide care and shelter for 3,500 animals each year. We do not receive government funding or tax dollars. The SPCA of Wake County is not affiliated with, nor do we receive funding from the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).
