AUG. 22, 2015 UPDATE: The total number of pets adopted on Clear the Shelters Day has risen to 19,132!
As of Saturday evening, 17,648 homeless pets have been adopted on the first-ever Clear the Shelters Day.
More than 300 shelters in about a dozen states participated in the event, which was organized in partnership with NBC-owned television stations and the Telemundo station group.
The goal, as the name implies, was to get as many pets adopted as possible. Some shelters, including those in the Chicago area, completely waived adoption fees, while others reduced the fees and/or reduced or waived spay and neuter fees.
Throughout Clear the Shelters Day on Saturday, shelters, reporters and new pet parents posted pictures of adopted pets on social media using the #ClearTheShelters hashtag.
Here are just a few of the many heartwarming posts on Twitter. (Tissue alert!)
This picture sums up #cleartheshelters day! It’s the epitome of “Thank you for #adopting me. I will always love you” pic.twitter.com/SdvzyoyHAl
— DallasAnimalServices (@DallasShelter) August 15, 2015
12-year-old Linda finally found a home after being at the Upper Keys Humane Society for 6 years! #ClearTheShelters pic.twitter.com/4GBvpaiM1k
— NBC 6 South Florida (@nbc6) August 15, 2015
Great news! Diesel-the oldest dog at Dallas animal services has a new home. He’s 12yrs old #ClearTheShelters @NBCDFW pic.twitter.com/0OYzO2DUjH — Eric King (@EricKingNBC5) August 15, 2015
Daisy Rose is going to blossom with her new family in her #foreverhome! @nbcwashington #ClearTheShelters @PGCSprout pic.twitter.com/oVW7KCdngo — PGC Environment (@PGCSprout) August 15, 2015
Nearly 450 pets adopted at #CleartheShelters! Troubleshooter @ChristianeNBCCT adopted Moose! http://t.co/HX2IGJHEvg pic.twitter.com/4uPVXTzTHc — NBC Connecticut (@NBCConnecticut) August 15, 2015
Wow! More than 10,000 pets already adopted nationwide. There’s still time to help us #CleartheShelters in SoCal today pic.twitter.com/AO0n19sDBL — NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) August 15, 2015
Mission accomplished @DallasShelter. #ClearTheShelters @NBCDFW #desocuparlosalbergues @Telemundo39 #Dallas #DFW pic.twitter.com/JrUtEXr4E4 — Brian Curtis (@BrianCurtisNBC5) August 15, 2015
The special, “Clear the Shelters,” hosted by Natalie Morales and featuring celebrities Cecily Strong, Sherri Shepard, Bellamy Young and Denise Richard, will air on NBC stations beginning Aug. 22. It will feature shelter pets meeting their new families and take a look at how social media is changing animal adoption.
Photo via Twitter