BARC Animal Shelter Joins BISSELL Pet Foundation to Offer Reduced Adoption Fees During Fall Empty The Shelters Event

BISSELL Pet Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to ending pet homelessness, is once again promoting a nationwide call for adoption through its Empty the Shelters event, running October 1-15, 2025. BARC Animal Shelter will participate alongside 300+ shelters across 38 states to help pets find loving homes through reduced adoption fees of $70 or less, generously sponsored by BISSELL Pet Foundation.
At BARC Animal Shelter, located at 3300 Carr St., adoption fees during Empty the Shelters will be reduced to $20 for dogs and puppies and $10 for cats and kittens. Adoption fees include spay/neuter surgery, dewormer, age-appropriate vaccinations, rabies vaccination, flea prevention, a pet microchip, and a one-year pet registration with the City of Houston.
To give more families the chance to adopt, BARC will also extend adoption hours by opening on Mondays during the Empty the Shelters event—traditionally a day the shelter is closed. Adoption hours will be 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily from October 1–15.
“Shelters continue to struggle in 2025, with more pets entering than leaving. But together, we have the power to change the story,” said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “Our National Empty the Shelters events bring attention to the pets of every breed, size and type waiting in shelters across the country. Each adoption gives a pet a second chance, eases the burden on shelters, and inspires more people to get involved. When you adopt, you become part of a lifesaving movement.
“Events like Empty the Shelters are a lifeline for pets in Houston,” said Jarrad Mears, Director of BARC Animal Shelter. “By reducing adoption fees and expanding our hours, we hope to remove barriers for families considering adoption. Every pet that finds a home not only changes that animal’s life, but also makes space for the next one in need.”
Since its inception in 2016, Empty the Shelters has helped more than 360,000 pets find loving homes and is now the largest funded adoption event in the country. The program partners with more than 815 animal welfare organizations across 49 states and Canada.
BISSELL Pet Foundation and BARC Animal Shelter urge families to research the pet they are interested in adopting, as well as adoption requirements. For more information on adopting or donating to “Empty the Shelters,” visit www.bissellpetfoundation.org/empty-the-shelters and www.HoustonBARC.com

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About BISSELL Pet Foundation:
BISSELL Pet Foundation is a charitable 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to help reduce the number of animals in shelters through pet adoption, spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchipping and emergency support. Founded in 2011 by Cathy Bissell, BPF is an extension of her long-standing love for animals and commitment to their welfare. BPF has since partnered with more than 6,000 shelters and rescues across the U.S. and Canada to help pets find loving homes. The foundation is supported by generous donors and BISSELL Inc. where every purchase saves pets. To learn more, visit www.bissellpetfoundation.org.
About BARC
BARC, the City of Houston’s Animal Shelter and Adoption Center, takes in more than 20,000 animals annually regardless of behavior, breed, or medical condition. BARC works each day to improve Houstonians and their pets’ health and safety by pioneering programs such as low-cost and no-cost spay/neuter services, mobile adoptions, transfer/rescue partnerships, and pet registration and microchipping. BARC is also committed to public safety through animal enforcement, which answers calls for service from the community and investigates cases of animal cruelty.
Visit www.houstonbarc.com for more information.