BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Empty the Shelters®: The Nation’s Largest Funded Pet Adoption Event

At BISSELL, pets are family. Helping them thrive is at the heart of everything we do. That's why we're proud to support BISSELL Pet Foundation® (BPF) and its mission to find every pet a loving home. BPF’s Empty the Shelters® reduced-fee adoption program has created real momentum around adoption, helping our nation's overcrowded shelters save more lives. Here’s a look back on this program’s origin and why it’s so critical.

The heart behind Empty the Shelters®

Cathy Bissell, BPF’s founder and lifelong animal advocate, has seen firsthand the heartbreak of deserving pets waiting in shelters – and the heartbreak of the dedicated shelter staff struggling with overcrowding and facing difficult choices about the pets in their care. She believed if more people knew about the wonderful pets available, more people would choose adoption.

So, Cathy had an idea – what if BPF could create an exciting event that would change people’s perception about shelter pets and help get pets into homes? The result was Empty the Shelters®, a program designed to encourage people to visit their local shelter and make adoption affordable for everyone. An important part of Empty the Shelters’ success is that all adoptions are for a low fee or no fee because BISSELL Pet Foundation provides reimbursement to shelters for each pet adopted.

Empty the Shelters® started small in Michigan, but the success and impact were immediate. And now? It’s the largest funded adoption event in the country, helping more than 323,000 pets find homes from 800+ shelters in 49 states and Canada since 2016. It’s one of BPF’s signature programs, held four times a year nationwide.

A lifeline for shelters – and a win for all

Shelters today are in crisis. Rising pet intakes, veterinary staff shortages, and longer stays are overwhelming already stretched teams. Empty the Shelters® brings relief by making adoption more accessible and helping shelters find homes for pets faster.

This event is a win-win-win:

Families win by adopting a vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and microchipped pet for $70 or less.
Shelters win through increased visibility, foot traffic, and community support.
And most importantly – pets win, finding the loving homes they deserve.

Every Purchase Saves Pets™

Every purchase makes it possible for BISSELL to continue our support of BISSELL Pet Foundation® and its mission of saving pets through partnerships with animal welfare organizations.

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May brings the first Empty the Shelters® event of 2025

The new year brings new challenges – and a renewed sense of urgency. Many shelters are full or over capacity, and sadly, some are being forced to make heartbreaking decisions due to lack of space and resources. If you are ready to bring a pet into your family, you can help!

From May 1 through May 15, 2025, BPF will host its Spring National Empty the Shelters® event at 380+ participating shelters in 43 states. Adoption fees will be reduced to $70 or less, giving more pets the chance to find families and providing critical relief to the shelters that care for them.

At BISSELL, we’re honored to support BPF’s Empty the Shelters® and the hundreds of thousands of lives it has impacted. Let’s make this the most successful event yet!

Find a shelter near you and learn more at: www.bissellpetfoundation.org/programs/empty-the-shelters