{"id":61609,"date":"2025-08-05T09:00:33","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T16:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sfspca.org\/?p=61609"},"modified":"2025-08-05T09:52:22","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T16:52:22","slug":"why-we-clear-the-shelters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sfspca.org\/blog\/why-we-clear-the-shelters\/","title":{"rendered":"Why We Clear the Shelters"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every August, the San Francisco SPCA joins hundreds of shelters across the country for Clear the Shelters<\/a>, a nationwide adoption and donation campaign that has helped nearly 1.2 million animals find loving homes since it began in 2015.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Led by NBCUniversal Local, Clear the Shelters brings together more than 1,600 animal shelters and rescues from across the country. Last year, this event helped nearly 170,000 animals find their forever families.<\/span><\/p>\n

But why do we need a campaign to \u201cclear the shelters\u201d? What makes it so urgent?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A national shelter crisis<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Across the country, shelters continue to face serious overcrowding. For the past few years, the number of animals entering shelters has outpaced the number leaving, due in part to staffing shortages as well as limited access to affordable veterinary care and spay\/neuter services.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But there\u2019s good news: we\u2019re making progress. According to national data from <\/span>Shelter Animals Count<\/span><\/a>, more shelter pets are finding homes. Dog adoption rates\u2014the percentage of dogs adopted compared to those entering shelters\u2014increased from 56% in 2023 to 57% in 2024. Cat adoption rates have remained high, reaching 64% in 2024, up from 62% the year before and 57% in 2019. These small shifts reflect a growing movement: more people are choosing adoption and discovering how wonderful shelter pets truly are.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How you can help<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

At the SF SPCA, we believe every animal deserves a loving home, and every person deserves the joy that comes from finding their perfect match.<\/span><\/p>\n

This August, we’re making adoptions more accessible by offering <\/span>Name Your Price fees all month long for cats and dogs five months and older.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

But we can\u2019t do it alone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your support helps cover the cost of care, vaccinations, microchipping, spay\/neuter surgeries, and adoption fee waivers that make moments like these possible. When you give, you\u2019re not just helping animals, you\u2019re helping more people experience the life-changing magic of adoption.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how you can make a difference:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n