PHX Reporter

Maricopa County Animal Care & Control is participating in Bissell Pet Foundation's “Empty the Shelters – Holiday Hope” adoption event through Dec. 11, with discounted adoption fees.

Maricopa County Animal Care & Control (MCACC) is one of 275 shelters in 43 states taking part in the adoption event, according to a release from the county. Each event offers adoption fees of $50 or less per cat or dog. 

"Bissell Pet Foundation is in constant communication with our shelter partners across the country, and they are struggling with unprecedented increases in owner surrenders and longer stays for pets," Cathy Bissell, founder of Bissell Pet Foundation, said in the release. "With so many great pets waiting in shelters, our ‘Empty the Shelters – Holiday Hope’ event is the perfect opportunity to save a life through adoption and create space to give another homeless pet a chance. If you can’t adopt, please consider fostering.”

MCACC Communications Officer Kim Powell said the need is just as dire in Maricopa County, adding that a new pet is a perfect Christmas gift.

“The ‘Empty the Shelters’ event couldn’t come at a more perfect time. We are over capacity at both our shelter locations and would love nothing more than to get dogs into a comfortable, loving home for the holidays and beyond,” Powell said.

The “Empty the Shelters” event is the largest funded adoption event in the country, according to the release, with approximately 160,000 pets finding loving homes since its inception in 2016.