“Clear the Shelters” is an annual, month-long, nationwide campaign held annually in the month of August, and it’s focused on promoting pet adoption and fundraising for animal shelters and rescues.
What it Is and How it Works
NBCUniversal and Telemundo are teaming up with hundreds of shelters across the country to host “Clear The Shelters” in August 2026, a nationwide pet adoption and donation campaign that helps find loving homes for animals in need.
Since launching in 2015, Clear The Shelters has driven more than 1.3 million adoptions and raised more than $5.6 million in donations. Last year’s Clear The Shelters campaign led to over 160,000 adoptions and raised more than $628,000 in donations for participating shelters and rescues — the highest fundraising total since 2020!
The campaign includes adoption events, fee-waived or discounted adoptions, and fundraising efforts to support the participating shelters and rescues. The 2025 campaign included over 1,700 shelters and rescues across 49 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and Guam.
Longtime Clear The Shelters partner Hill’s Pet Nutrition is serving as the campaign’s presenting sponsor for the first time this year. The 2026 campaign features several other returning partners, including Greater Good Charities, WeRescue and The Black Dog.
Why It Matters
Shelters often face challenges like overcrowding, limited resources, and the emotional toll on animals and staff. “Clear the Shelters” helps address these issues by finding loving homes for animals and freeing up space for others.
How You Can Get Involved
Adopt: If you’re looking to add a furry friend to your family, consider adopting from a local shelter or rescue organization. Many of them are having special events and promotions – just look them up or pay them a visit!
Donate: Shelters rely on donations to provide food, medical care, and other essential resources. You can donate money, supplies, or even volunteer your time to your local shelter. Donations can also be made to either the national Clear The Shelters fund or to a specific participating shelter or rescue here at ClearTheSheltersFund.org.
Spread the word and Join the Cause: Share information about the campaign with your friends and family to help raise awareness. Shelters and rescues interested in joining this year’s campaign can register here.
Additional Tips
Do your research: If you’re considering adopting, research different breeds and their needs to find the best fit for your lifestyle.
Be patient: Finding the right match may take time, so be patient and open-minded.
Consider fostering: If you’re not ready to adopt, consider fostering a pet to provide temporary care and support. By giving it time and attention outside of the stressful shelter environment, fostering can help reveal a dog or cat’s special personality, guiding them to their forever home.
For more information on Clear The Shelters, including participating shelters, along with details on local events and television programming, visit ClearTheShelters.com and the Spanish-language site DesocuparlosAlbergues.com. Follow Clear The Shelters on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
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Photo Credit: hedgehog94 / Shutterstock.com
