ROAR Joins Clear The Shelters Pet Adoption Campaign In Ridgefield

ROAR is joining the Clear The Shelters campaign in August to promote pet adoption and fundraising.

By Rich Kirby, Patch Staff

Jul 30, 2026 5:08 PM EDT

ROAR is participating in NBCUniversal Local’s Clear The Shelters 2026 campaign, running from Aug. 1 to 31. Peppa, a two-year-old dog rescued from Puerto Rico, weighs 37 pounds and is searching for a family to call her own. (ROAR)

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue has joined NBCUniversal Local's 12th annual Clear The Shelters pet adoption and donation campaign, which is scheduled to run from Aug. 1 to 31.

The campaign, presented by Hill's Pet Nutrition, also includes a fundraising initiative that runs through Sept. 15.

As part of the national initiative, NBC and Telemundo stations work with animal shelters and rescues in their communities to promote pet adoption and raise money for animal welfare operations.

Since the campaign began in 2015, Clear The Shelters has helped more than 1.3 million pets find new homes and raised more than $5.6 million for participating shelters and rescues, according to the release.

"Clear The Shelters is a powerful reminder of what can happen when communities rally behind rescue animals," Kate Zalucky, shelter director at ROAR, said. "We have amazing dogs and cats waiting to be adopted, and we encourage people to visit ROAR's shelter this August and see how these pets can enrich their lives."

Fundraising for Clear The Shelters will be led by Greater Good Charities, a global nonprofit and longtime campaign partner. Donations to the general fund may be made through Sept. 15, and donations to individual shelters may be made from Aug. 1 to 31 at ClearTheSheltersFund.org, according to the release.

WeRescue is returning for its eighth year as the campaign's technology partner. Its website and apps allow users to search for adoptable pets by breed, gender, size and other factors, apply to adopt and ask shelters questions directly. A new feature, Scout, helps visitors find a match by answering a few questions.

Hill's Pet Nutrition is returning as a national sponsor for the ninth consecutive campaign and is serving as presenting sponsor for the first time, according to the release.

ROAR, a nonprofit animal rescue organization in Ridgefield, has placed 6,500 dogs and cats in homes since its founding in 2000, according to the organization. Its shelter, named for the Donofrio family, opened in 2005.