Clear the Shelters Returns: Harris County Pets Pushes for Adoptions Amid Continued Shelter Overcrowding
Harris County Pets (HCP), operated by the Veterinary Public Health Division of Harris County Public Health, is once again joining the nationwide Clear the Shelters campaign, an initiative dedicated to finding loving homes for pets in need. Now celebrating its 11th year, this NBCUniversal Local and Telemundo-led event has already helped more than 1.2 million pets find permanent homes and raised over $5 million for animal welfare organizations nationwide.
A Timely Push to Ease Overcrowding
Harris County Pets continues to experience high intake numbers—thousands of cats and dogs enter its shelter every year, creating an urgent need for adoptions. According to HCP’s recent reports, nearly 30,000 animals were taken in during 2024, caring for dogs well over capacity every month during 2025 so far and over capacity for cats in May and June. Such overcrowding creates stress for animals and challenges for staff, making community participation crucial.
“We’re proud to join Clear the Shelters again this year,” said Corey Steele, director of HCPH’s Veterinary Public Health Division and Harris County Pets. “We have incredible pets of all ages, breeds, and sizes ready to become part of a family. These reduced adoption fees make it easier for people to open their homes to a new best friend.”
Reduced Fees Throughout August
From August 1–31, Harris County Pets is reducing adoption fees to encourage more families to open their homes:
- Dogs and puppies: $25
- Cats and kittens: $10
The shelter will also close August 9–10 to participate in a Mega Adoption Event, part of its broader effort to find permanent homes for as many animals as possible this summer.
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Why Adoption Matters
The ASPCA emphasizes the importance of choosing adoption over purchasing pets, noting benefits that go beyond individual families. Adoption:
- Saves lives by reducing the number of pets in overcrowded shelters.
- Offers families healthy, vaccinated, and often already spayed or neutered pets.
- Breaks the cycle of pet overpopulation by encouraging responsible pet ownership.
What to Know Before Adopting
Harris County Pets reminds prospective adopters that all cats and dogs adopted from the shelter are microchipped, dewormed, spayed or neutered, up-to-date on age-appropriate vaccinations (including rabies), and come with a Harris County pet license for one year.
“Adopting a pet is a lifelong commitment,” Steele said. “Before welcoming a pet into your home, make sure you have the time, resources, and space to provide them with a loving and safe environment.”
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Visit or Browse Online
Walk-ins are welcome during HCP’s regular adoption hours:
- Monday – Friday: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
- Saturday – Sunday: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
The shelter is located at 612 Canino Rd, Houston, TX 77076, and photos and bios of adoptable pets are available online at CountyPets.com.
For those unable to adopt, HCP encourages the community to foster, volunteer, or donate to support animals in need.
Stay tuned with My Neighborhood News for updates on pet adoption and other community initiatives in Harris County throughout August.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
