EMPTY THE SHELTERS!
BISSELL PET FOUNDATION TO PAY ALL ADOPTION FEES AT LAWRENCE COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY & ASHLAND PETSMART
LOUISA, KY (November 10, 2016) — BISSELL Pet Foundation (BPF) announces EMPTY THE SHELTERS, a free pet adoption event, will be held Saturday, November 19th from 10am-5pm at Lawrence County Humane Society(LCHS) in Louisa, KY and at PetSmart in Ashland, KY from 11am-5pm. BPF will pay all adoption fees which average $135 for dogs and $70 for cats.
BPF, a national nonprofit headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, seeks to make a significant impact on pet homelessness with EMPTY THE SHELTERS events across the country. In October, BPF emptied 57 shelters in Michigan with 1,960 pets adopted. LCHS took notice of this success and contacted BPF to be considered in the future. As a result, LCHS will be one of five shelters nationwide to participate in EMPTY THE SHELTERS on the 19th as part of a test program for a prospective national rollout of the BPF event.
As the event gained momentum and excitement, BPF accepted other area groups to be part of the day. LCHS will partner with three other animal welfare organizations at PetSmart in Ashland in an effort to find forever homes for the most dogs and cats possible. More than 75 pets are expected to be available between the two facilities. Families who choose adoption at LCHS and PetSmart Ashland during EMPTY THE SHELTERS will only be responsible for licensing fees.
“Our goal for EMPTY THE SHELTERS is to encourage people considering a pet to choose adoption first,” Cathy Bissell notes. “We hope that families in the Lawrence County and Ashland areas will open their hearts to the wonderful cats and dogs at these locations to give them a much-deserved, second chance at life.”
LCHS was also the recent recipient of a $2800 grant from BPF to provide cat spay/neuter procedures for low-income pet owners and Trap-Neuter-Return for community cats. This grant funding will prevent unplanned litters from adding to the area’s homeless pet population. Millions of pets are abandoned or released to shelters and rescue organizations each year with nearly half euthanized because they are unable to find new homes. BPF is committed to solving this problem by supporting animal welfare organizations through adoption, spay/neuter, microchipping and foster care programs.
Lawrence County Humane Society is located at 820 Isaac Park Road, Louisa, KY, 41230. Adoption requirements at this location include: fenced yard or kennel for large dog adoption; introduction of current pets to potential adopted pet to ensure compatibility; and permission of landlord/proof of home ownership. Please bring carrier for cat adoptions. Other restrictions may apply and adopters are encouraged to come prepared with all adoption requirements. Please visit www.lawrencecokyanimalshelter.com/adoptioncontract.html for adoption contract and to see adoptable pets visit www.facebook.com/lawrencecountyshelter/. PetSmart is located at 479 River Hill Drive, Ashland, KY 41101. For questions pertaining to this event at either location, please contact Beverly Pack (Volunteer, LCHS) at cell 606-571-6224
For more information about BISSELL Pet Foundation, please visit bissellpetfoundation.org.
About BISSELL Pet Foundation