Rancho Coastal Humane Society in Encinitas announced Friday that it will offer reduced pet adoption fees starting this weekend as part of a national campaign.
Rancho Coastal Human Society is one of more than 400 shelters across the United States to participate in the Bissell Pet Foundation‘s “Empty the Shelters — Holiday Hope” program, from Sunday through Dec. 17.
RCHS will offer $50 adoption fees for adult and senior dogs, and cats 6 months and older, according to a news release.
Located at 389 Requeza St. in Encinitas, RCHS will also have later shelter hours, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day except Tuesday.
Normally, adoption fees are $145 for dogs and $100 for cats. RCHS said its regular adoption process will continue.
Emptying the shelter is an everyday goal for RCHS, said Judi Sanzo, organization president and CEO.
The Bissell seasonal program “provides an added incentive to encourage adoptions and help us find loving homes for the animals in our care,” Sanzo added. “At Rancho Coastal, we strive to match the needs of the pet with the desires of the family for a truly customized adoption process. We look forward to participating in the campaign.”
Cathy Bissell, who started the Bissell Pet Foundation, said 2024 has been an “incredibly challenging year for saving lives,” as U.S. shelters continue to take in more animals than are adopted.
“Tens of thousands of shelter pets — of all breeds, ages and personalities — are desperately in need of homes,” Bissell said.
She added that the December adoption event is “a lifeline for shelter pets,” and urged residents to visit their local participating shelter to adopt or foster an animal.
Started in 2016, Bissell Pet Foundation’s Empty the Shelters is the nation’s largest funded adoption event, according to RCHS. Bissell Pet Foundation works with 800 animal welfare organizations in 48 states and Canada to reduce adoption fees.
Over 300,000 pets “have found loving homes since its inception,” via the binational program, according to RCHS.
More information on RCHS can be found at rchumanesociety.org. Details on the Bissell Pet Foundation are available at bissellpetfoundation.org.
