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Clear the Shelters: Help 10 News find loving homes for local adoptable pets

Clear The Shelters is an annual, nationwide pet adoption and shelter donation campaign

Amphitrite (Credit: Franklin County Humane Society Planned Pethood and Adoption Center) (WSLS)

ROANOKE, Va. – 10 News is working for you to help Clear the Shelters! During the month of August we will be featuring a a local adoptable shelter pet looking for it’s forever home.

According to Shelter Animals Count data, approximately 6.3 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.1 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats. Each year, approximately 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized (390,000 dogs and 530,000 cats). The number of dogs and cats euthanized in U.S. shelters annually has declined from approximately 2.6 million in 2011. The ASPCA said the decline can be partially explained by an increase in the percentage of animals adopted and an increase in the number of stray animals successfully returned to their owners.

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August is normally one of the busiest months for animal shelters across the region, in part, due to kitten season.

Clear The Shelters is an annual, nationwide pet adoption and shelter donation campaign that is spearheaded by NBCUniversal Local.

Through this campaign, you can help local shelters in the region by finding rescues a loving home.

10 News will post a new animal each weekday for the Clear The Shelters campaign. Each post will feature a new animal, more information about the animal, and adoption information.

Even if you can’t adopt, you can help.

Share each pet on social media and help spread the word! You may not be looking for another pet, but someone out there is still searching.

You can also donate to local shelters. Most accept monetary online donations, have amazon wish lists or accept donations in person.

Find out how, and what each shelter needs:

Angels of Assisi - Roanoke

Franklin County Humane Society/Planned Pethood

Galax Carroll Grayson Animal Shelter

Giles County Animal Shelter

Healing Hearts Canine Rescue - PACC

Lynchburg Humane Society

Martinsville Henry County SPCA

Montgomery County Animal Care and Adoption Center

Regional Center for Animal Care and Protection (Roanoke)

Roanoke Valley SPCA

Wythe County Dog Shelter

You can find 10 News’ 2022 and 2023 Clear The Shelters story here.


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About the Author
Rachel Lucas headshot

Watch Rachel anchor weekdays during 10 News at 5, 5:30, 6 and 7 p.m. Rachel also specializes in health reporting and provides daily reports during HealthWatch. A Southwest Virginia native, Rachel takes pride in covering local news for the place she calls home.