Miami-Dade Animal Services’ participation in the Clear the Shelters event which took place on Saturday, August 15, 2015 resulted in a record breaking 161 in-shelter pet adoptions. Animal Services partnered with NBC 6 South Florida/WTVJ, Telemundo 51/WSCV and other shelters across South Florida to participate in the nationwide pet adoption initiative to help find every shelter pet a loving forever family.
To encourage and motivate pet lovers in their decision to adopt, fees were waived on all cats and adopters only had to pay the $27 licensing fee for dogs. Throughout the week, NBC 6 South Florida and Telemundo 51 broadcasted special programming promoting the event and NBC 6 South Florida’s “6 in the Mix” August 13 show was broadcast live remotely from Animal Services. The combination of pricing and promotion helped to make the day a success.
“People were lined-up to adopt even before we opened,” said Alex Muñoz, Director of Animal Services. “We are very grateful to everyone at NBC 6 South Florida and Telemundo 51 for creating awareness in our community about the benefits and the importance of adopting a shelter pet.”
In South Florida a total of 500 pets were adopted from all participating shelters including Miami-Dade Animal Services, the Humane Society of Broward County, Humane Society of Greater Miami and Broward County Animal Care and Adoption Division. Nationwide over 18,000 pets were adopted.
Fee waived adoptions are supported by organizations such as Maddie’s Fund and the ASPCA based on studies which showed that offering free adoptions does not have a negative impact on the quality of the adoption or the level of commitment of the adopter.
Every week, 500 dogs and cats are abandoned at Miami-Dade Animal Services. Visit our website to connect, adopt and fall in love with a shelter pet.
