'Clear The Shelter' Drive Saves Montgomery County Animals

By LANNING TALIAFERRO and JUSTIN HEINZE

Animal shelters around Montgomery County and across the United States will be hosting an adoption extravaganza on Saturday, waiving all adoption fees in hopes that more families will come out that day to adopt a shelter dog, cat, puppy or kitten in need of a loving home.

Clear the Shelter Day, which is taking place between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Aug. 15, is part of a national initiative spearheaded by NBC Universal, who is pairing up their local affiliate television stations with participating animal shelters across the country to find new homes for homeless pets.

“The SPCA is so pleased to be participating in Clear the Shelters,” says Shannon Laukhuf, Executive Director of the Westchester SPCA. “Finding homes for abused and abandoned animals is, and has been, our mission since our founding. We’re proud to be a part of this national event to shine a light on the need for people to adopt shelter cats and dogs, who through no fault of their own, need a second chance at a happy life.”

According to NBC, Clear the Shelter Day was initiated last year in the Dallas-Fort Worth market as a partnership between NBC Universal and dozens of North Texas animal shelters. The day resulted in the adoption of more than 2,200 homeless animals, the most adopted in one day in North Texas.

The approval process will be the same as any other day to ensure all animals get adopted into qualified homes.

Potential adopters are encouraged to submit an application in advance, although this isn’t required in order to adopt that day.

All animals adopted through the SPCA come spayed/neutered, microchipped, up to date on vaccines and include a free Veterinarian check-up within 30 days with a participating Veterinarian.

The Montgomery County SPCA has three locations:

• Conshohocken: 19 E. Ridge Pike
• Abington: 1006 Edge Hill Road
• Perkiomenville: 1059 Sweisford Road

For more information about this national pet adoption drive please visit www.ClearTheShelters.com.