The Animal Foundation Joins BISSELL Pet Foundation’s “Empty the Shelters” Adoption Event
From May 3 through May 13, The Animal Foundation in Las Vegas will once again participate in BISSELL Pet Foundation’s nationwide “Empty the Shelters” adoption event, offering waived adoption fees for large adult dogs in hopes of helping more pets find permanent homes.
As shelters across the country continue facing overcrowding challenges, the event arrives at a critical time for Las Vegas rescue efforts. During the promotion, adoption fees will be waived for dogs weighing more than 30 pounds and over six months old, thanks to funding support from BISSELL Pet Foundation.
A National Push to Help Shelter Pets
What began in 2016 as a smaller awareness campaign has grown into one of the country’s largest adoption initiatives. According to BISSELL Pet Foundation, Empty the Shelters has helped nearly 400,000 pets find homes nationwide while partnering with more than 6,000 shelters and rescues across the United States and Canada.
The campaign focuses not only on placing pets into homes, but also on helping shelters create desperately needed kennel space for incoming animals. That impact is especially important in Southern Nevada, where local shelters regularly operate at or near capacity.
At The Animal Foundation, large dogs often make up a significant portion of the shelter population and can face longer adoption wait times compared to smaller breeds.
What Adopters Should Know
The Animal Foundation encourages potential adopters to browse available pets online before arriving at the shelter. Visitors can join the shelter’s virtual waitlist beginning at 8 a.m. daily by scanning the QR code located at the adoption lobby entrance.
Doors officially open at 11 a.m., though the shelter notes that adoption services may close before 7 p.m. if daily capacity limits are reached. Staff recommend arriving early due to expected demand during the event.
The fee-waived adoptions include:
- Spay or neuter surgery
- Up-to-date vaccinations
- Microchipping
Shelter staff also ask adopters not to bring current household pets for introductions, noting that the shelter environment often does not accurately reflect how animals will interact once inside a home setting.
Why Events Like This Matter in Las Vegas
Large breed dogs are often among the most overlooked shelter pets despite many being highly social, affectionate companions. Adoption events like Empty the Shelters help remove financial barriers while giving more families the opportunity to consider dogs they may not have otherwise met.
For local rescues and shelters, each adoption can create immediate space for another animal in need of intake, medical care, or temporary shelter.
The Animal Foundation, located at 655 N. Mojave Road in Las Vegas, remains one of the region’s busiest animal shelters and continues to encourage fostering, adoption, volunteering, and community support throughout the year.
For additional information on The Animal Foundation adoptions visit their website or BISSEL Pet Foundation for Empty the Shelters initiative.