CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The nationwide pet adoption and donation campaign Clear the Shelters is returning for the 10th straight year this August.
The monthlong adoption initiative will take place from August 10, 2024, to September 10, 2024; and in honor of the 10th anniversary, the donation initiative will have an extended run of August 1, 2024, to September 30, 2024.
Clear The Shelters’ landmark anniversary comes after the campaign surpassed 1 million all-time adoptions in 2023.
Saturday, there were more than 30 adoptions from the CMPD shelter.
There over 50 in Gaston County during WCNC Charlotte’s clear the shelters event.
“I think the reason people keep coming is our animals. They're amazing and they're fantastic and they're doing really well in their current homes,” said Ariel Hensly, Adoption Coordinator at Gaston County Animal Services
While for some this was their first time bringing a furry friend home, for others, it's a family tradition.
“We want another little kitty. He's the one that spoke to us,” Emily Anderson shared. “We got our first cat here when I was a little, so to come back and have a new experience with another fuzzy face -- that's very special.
WCNC Charlotte and the TEGNA Foundation made a big investment into this effort by donating $3,000.
“This is going to go a long way to doing the things that we love to do, and the things that really drive us to carry on,” said Dave Shrewsbury with CMPD Animal Care and Control.
Many Charlotte area shelters and rescue groups are at capacity, which means there’s no available kennel space. WCNC Charlotte has teamed up with area shelters and rescues to raise awareness and encourage the community to foster, adopt or donate.
Clear The Shelters has multiple partnerships that will be extended for the 2024 campaign. For the seventh straight year, Hill’s Pet Nutrition will serve as the campaign’s national sponsor and partner.
Meanwhile, virtual pet adoptions will be available through WeRescue for a sixth consecutive year. WeRescue allows prospective adopters to search for pets in their area, submit adoption applications, and ask questions directly to shelters.
The campaign's fundraising efforts will continue to be led by longtime partner Greater Good Charities, while animal and pet brand The Dodo will return as a media partner for an eighth campaign.
Visit any of the listed shelters and rescues below to find your forever pet or to donate throughout the Clear the Shelters campaign:
- CMPD Animal Care & Control- 8315 Byrum Dr, Charlotte, NC 28217
- Humane Society of Charlotte- 1348 Parker Drive, Charlotte, NC 28208
- Carolina Boxer Rescue - View available dogs online
- Bullies 2 the Rescue- View available dogs online
- Gaston County Animal Care and Enforcement - 1491 Business Park Ct, Gastonia, NC 28052
- Lincoln County Animal Services - 650 John Howel Memorial Dr, Lincolnton, NC 28092
- Greater Charlotte SPCA - View available pets online
- Catawba County Animal Services - 201 Government Services Dr, Newton, NC 28658
- Watauga Humane Society - 312 Paws Way, Boone, NC 28607
- Iredell County Animal Services - 430 Bristol Dr, Statesville, NC 28677
- Zach’s Rescue - Petsmart, 2875 W Hwy 74, Monroe, NC 28110
- Piedmont Animal Rescue - View available pets online
- Union County Animal Services - 3340 Presson Road Monroe, NC 28112
- Mitchell County Animal Rescue - View available pets online
- Heart of the Foothills Animal Rescue - View available pets online