If you've been thinking about adding a dog to your household, this week is a great time to make it happen. The Jacksonville Humane Society is offering $25 adoption fees for all dogs through September 30, 2026, as part of the 10th annual Empty the Shelters event organized by the BISSELL Pet Foundation.
The Jacksonville shelter is one of more than 335 participating organizations across 39 states. The BISSELL Pet Foundation sponsors reduced fees of $70 or less for cats and dogs at all participating shelters, and every animal adopted through the program comes already spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped.
Empty the Shelters launched in 2016 with a straightforward goal: lower the financial barrier to adoption and get more animals into loving homes. In the decade since, the campaign has helped nearly 400,000 pets find families nationwide — a number that BISSELL Pet Foundation founder Cathy Bissell says has had a ripple effect, freeing up shelter space and easing the burden on shelter staff across the country.
Lawrence Nicolas, CEO of the Jacksonville Humane Society, expressed enthusiasm about the organization's continued participation, noting that the funding support from BISSELL makes it possible to meaningfully reduce adoption costs for local families. Specific hours and a list of adoptable animals are available on the Jacksonville Humane Society's website.
This story was first reported by Jenna Bartkovsky for Action News Jax.
