The Humane Society of St. Lucie County (HSSLC) is celebrating an incredible milestone after 75 shelter pets found loving homes during a three-week summer adoption event held from July 5 to 26.
Thanks to overwhelming community support, 49 cats and 26 dogs began new chapters with their own families. This success has also created much-needed space at the facility to welcome more animals waiting for a second chance.
More Than an Empty Cage: The Impact of Adopting
Each adoption represents much more than an open space at the shelter; it’s a life saved, a family completed, and new hope for another homeless pet who can now enter and receive care.
During one of the busiest times of the year for animal shelters, this achievement is a testament to the compassion of local adopters and the unwavering dedication of HSSLC’s staff and volunteers, who work tirelessly every day to care for the most vulnerable animals.
The Humane Society of St. Lucie County participated in the national Empty the Shelters® event, during which BISSELL Pet Foundation sponsored adoption fees. This allowed approved adopters to take home a spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped dog or cat at no cost.
Summer: A Critical Season for Shelters
Summer is typically one of the most challenging seasons for animal shelters. The “kitten and puppy season” brings a large influx of litters, while pet surrenders by owners increase and adoptions tend to decline. Events like this provide vital relief by helping shelters free up space for animals that continue to arrive.
“Every summer, shelters face the greatest pressure due to pet overpopulation,” explained Cathy Bissell, founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “We are deeply committed to addressing the root causes of overpopulation through spaying and neutering; but until prevention matches the scale of the crisis, our adoption events are a lifeline for shelters and the animals in their care. We hope this summer you’ll open your heart and home to a shelter pet.”
A Community Effort That Saves Lives
The success of this campaign underscores the power of local community action in protecting animals.
“Seeing 75 pets leave our shelter to go home with their new families is an incredible reminder of what our community can achieve when we come together for animals,” said Shannon Glendinning, Director of Development at the Humane Society of St. Lucie County. “Every adoption creates space for another pet in need, allowing us to continue our mission of saving lives. We are immensely grateful to every adopter who chose to open their heart and home, and to all who support the Humane Society throughout the year.”
While today’s celebration is for the 75 pets already enjoying life with their new families, the impact extends much further. With each pet that leaves the shelter, another homeless animal has the opportunity to receive the care, medical treatment, and second chance they deserve.
The HSSLC remains steadfast in its commitment to providing life-saving care and encourages the community to consider adoption whenever they are ready to welcome a new companion.
About the Organizations
About the Humane Society of St. Lucie County (HSSLC): It is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing compassionate care, safe shelter for homeless animals, and community education on responsible pet ownership. It prides itself on being an official “no-kill” shelter, with the goal of finding good, safe, and loving homes for all animals under its care. Visit HSSLC.org and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
About Empty the Shelters (ETS): ETS is the largest funded adoption event in the country and has helped more than 400,000 pets find homes in the U.S. and Canada since its launch in 2016. Sponsored by BISSELL Pet Foundation, the program collaborates with hundreds of animal welfare organizations to reduce fees and make adoption accessible to more families.
About BISSELL Pet Foundation: It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity whose mission is to help reduce the number of animals in shelters through adoption, spaying/neutering, vaccination, microchipping, and emergency support. Founded in 2011 by Cathy Bissell, it has partnered with more than 6,025 shelters and rescues. The foundation is supported by generous donors and BISSELL Inc., where every purchase helps save pets. For more information, visit www.bissellpetfoundation.org.
Images courtesy of Humane Society of St. Lucie County
