JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Are you thinking about welcoming a new furry friend into your household? The BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Empty the Shelters – Holiday Hope initiative is assisting local shelters in reducing adoption fees to ensure every pet finds a loving home during the holiday season.

This charitable event by BISSELL is held quarterly, and currently, over 300 shelters nationwide, including three in the First Coast area, are lowering adoption costs to $70 or less until December 15.

Cathy Bissell, the founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation, remarked, “This year has been particularly challenging for shelters across the nation as economic difficulties and housing changes have forced many families to relinquish their cherished pets. By choosing adoption, you gain numerous advantages. Shelters have pets of all sizes and ages—many previously lived in homes, are house-trained, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and ready to join your family—at a much lower cost than purchasing from a breeder or pet store. Our Empty the Shelters Holiday Hope event is a wonderful opportunity to conclude the year by providing shelter animals with the greatest gift—a loving home.”

Since its inception in 2016, BISSELL reports that the Empty the Shelters initiative has facilitated nearly 375,000 pet adoptions.

The Jacksonville Humane Society, Nassau Humane Society and Clay County Animal Services are listed as participating this December, with varying prices.

The Jacksonville Humane Society begins the adoption event after hitting a bittersweet milestone: 10,000 animals cared for so far this year. JHS says the last time it did intakes on so many animals was in 2005, prior to it achieving no-kill status.

All adoptions at JHS are $25 or less for the duration of the event. 

An additional $20 fee for rabies vaccination certification may apply.

View animals available for adoption now on JHS’s official website.

Until Dec. 15, The Nassau Humane Society is dropping adoption prices depending on the animal species and age. The shelter provided the following prices it will use for the duration of the event:

• Adult cats: $25
• Adult dogs: $50
• Kittens: $50

Puppies and specialty breeds are excluded from the Clear the Shelters discounts.

“Empty the Shelters comes at a time when our kennels are fuller than ever, and every adoption truly changes a life,” said Jenny Paris with the Nassau Humane Society. “We’re grateful to BISSELL Pet Foundation for making it easier for families to open their homes to a shelter pet. This event brings hope to so many animals who just need a chance.”

You can see all the animals available for adoption now on the shelter’s official website.

While event-specific pricing and dates have not yet been advertised, all animals aside from puppies are currently listed as being adoptable for $25 or $20.

To see available animals and hours of operation, visit CCAS’s official website.