October 5, 2017
Free adoption event will help homeless pets find forever homes on October 14
LOUISA, KY (October 3, 2017) — After just successfully completing a multi-state hurricane relief effort with 764 pets adopted, BISSELL Pet Foundation (BPF) announced that its next EMPTY THE SHELTERS (ETS) event will be its largest yet and will include the Lawrence County Humane Society (LCHS) of Louisa, KY. In addition to the Shelter in Louisa, animals will also be available for adoption at the PetSmart store located in Ashland, KY. The Grand Rapids, Michigan-based nonprofit will pay adoption fees at 75+ shelters on Saturday, October 14, 2017, to help hundreds of pets find forever homes.
LCHS participated in BPF’s EMPTY THE SHELTERS in November 2016 and successfully found homes for 94 pets in one day. The October 14 event will primarily focus on shelters in the state of Michigan, yet BISSELL Pet Foundation has included LCHS which expects to have 120 pets available for adoption. More than 9,000 cats and dogs from 9 states have found loving homes through EMPTY THE SHELTERS in the last 17 months.
“Our goal for EMPTY THE SHELTERS is to encourage people to choose adoption first,” explains Cathy Bissell, founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “We want to make it easy for pet owners both by sponsoring the adoption fee and providing important wellness information to keep pets happy and healthy in their new homes.”
Nationwide, approximately 2.7 million pets are euthanized yearly because they are unable to find homes. EMPTY THE SHELTERS combats this problem by increasing adoption rates. From previous ETS events, 96.6% of adopters reported pets remained in their new homes 6-15 months later; 52% of adopters were first-time adopters; 99.4% of adopters have already or plan to recommend adoption to their friends/family.
Families that adopt on October 14 will be required to pay licensing fees for their pet – costs may vary by county. BPF will thank families for choosing adoption by providing a leash for dogs, a collar for cats and valuable wellness information and coupons for new pet owners.
Participating organizations will be adhering to their standard adoption requirements for the event and adopters are encouraged to review those requirements prior to October 14. For more information about EMPTY THE SHELTERS, including the LCHS adoption locations, a list of all participating shelters and rescue organizations, and adoption requirements, please visit www.bissellpetfoundation.org/ets. Hours at the Shelter in Louisa and PetSmart in Ashland will be 10-5pm. Questions may also be directed to Beverly Pack, Volunteer for LC Humane Society, at cell 606-571-6224 or email sixcatpack@mindspring.com.
About BISSELL Pet Foundation
BISSELL Pet Foundation is a charitable 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to help reduce the number of animals in shelters and to support organizations dedicated to the humane care and treatment of animals through pet adoption, spay/neuter programs, microchipping and foster care. Founded in 2011 by Cathy Bissell, BISSELL Pet Foundation is an extension of her long-standing love for animals and commitment to their welfare. The foundation is supported by BISSELL Homecare, Inc., a 141-year-old Grand Rapids-based floor care appliance brand in its fourth generation of family leadership.
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About BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
For 141 years and counting, Michigan-based BISSELL Homecare, Inc. has developed innovative floor care solutions that make cleaning easier. As the top-selling brand in floor care appliances based on NPD unit sales, BISSELL understands that fuller lives often mean more messes, and that convenient cleaning tools help us embrace life’s messier moments. Now in its fourth generation of family leadership, the company supplies households across the globe with vacuums, sweepers, deep-cleaning machines, hard floor cleaners and cleaning formulas. For more on the BISSELL complete line of floor care products, visit www.bissell.com.
