HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) —BISSELL Pet Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to ending pet homelessness, is once again prompting a nationwide call for adoption through its Empty the Shelters® event, running May 1-15, 2025. The RHSPCA will participate alongside 380+ shelters across 43 states to help pets find loving homes through fee-waived adoptions, generously sponsored by BISSELL Pet Foundation.

The RHSPCA will participate from May 1-15, offering $70 adoptions for adult cats and adult dogs. Adoption fees for puppies remain $250 and kittens remain $100. These fees include a veterinary examination, vaccinations, microchipping, and spay or neutering. Visit www.rhspca.org/adopt to view adoptable pets and learn more.

“Every time we host Empty the Shelters, it affirms the importance of this lifesaving program,” said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation in a press release. “During the two-week event in May, tens of thousands of pets of all kinds, many who’ve waited far too long, will find the loving homes they deserve. Empty the Shelters has created real momentum around adoption, helping our nation’s overcrowded shelters save more lives. We are proud to keep expanding this life-changing effort and grateful to everyone who makes it possible by adopting or donating.”

“During Empty the Shelters 2024, 57 animals found lifelong homes,” says Summer DuBois, Director of Operations. “We hope to find even more in 2025!” RHSPCA will continue using its adoption policies and matchmaking counseling to ensure the best outcomes for pets and adopters.

Since its inception in 2016, Empty the Shelters has helped more than 323,000 pets find loving homes and is now the largest funded adoption event in the country. The program partners with more than 815 animal welfare organizations across 49 states and Canada.

BISSELL Pet Foundation and the RHSPCA 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.rhspca.org/adopt.