News & Noteworthy 

Adopters lined up to adopt an animal

ACCT Philly’s Empty The Shelters was a SUCCESS!

This last week has been amazing for all of us at ACCT and something we’ve never experienced. We asked for help, and Philly more than showed up! Thanks to the BISSELL Pet Foundation and Cathy Bissell for sponsoring #Emptytheshelters, all adoption fees were $10, and thanks to Karen Hua and NBC10 Philadelphia , Nikki DeMentri and CBS Philadelphia , Katie Katro and 6abc Action News, NPR and WHYY, PennLive.com, City Cast Philly, and everyone on social media who spread the word, we’re the closest we’ve ever been to an EMPTY shelter. Since Tuesday, everyday has started out with lines of adopters, and 179 cats and 127 dogs, as well as 4 rabbits, have left for their new homes.
We have to also shout out to our friends at Providence Animal Center, who answered our call for help when we had no surgery scheduled for Friday This meant animals couldn’t leave that day but they sent their vet to do surgeries, so that the adopted pets could leave! And to our friends at Pennsylvania SPCA who stepped up to loan us cat carriers for adopters picking up, as we ran out not anticipating so many adopters!
As a result of so many adoptions, we had space to give dogs like Dracula-who came into the shelter very stressed-the time they needed to adjust and show us how great they were. He’s now available for adoption. Dogs like Bashful, whose timestamp – which was entirely due to lack of space – expired on Tuesday, was able to get an extension so that an adopter who saw her and fell in love could come and adopt her. it meant that because we had fewer animals in the building, staff could take the time needed to complete tasks for pets in our care instead of having to scramble constantly. It meant we didn’t have to burden rescues who have been overstretched all year, by begging them to take as many animals as we usually do, because the animals were getting adopted instead.
When we say adopting from a shelter saves a life, this is what we mean!
We are starting the week with 74 dogs in the shelter, nearly 30 of whom are adopted and just awaiting spay/neuter surgery.
We even started our Sunday with no cats available for adoption. As a result of all the interest, we provided vouchers so the $10 adoption fee is honored for those who were not able to find a match if they adopt by the end of October.
To everyone who came out and adopted, THANK YOU and to those who left with vouchers, please look at the animals we have in foster homes, or come back in a few days! We take in dozens of dogs and cats every day and know that our kennels will fill up fast.
A huge shout out to all of the staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly to help as many animals as possible get adopted, and to the media and Bissell Pet Foundation who made this magic happen!
Want to help us keep the momentum going?
Sign up to volunteer: acctphilly.org/volunteer
Make a donation to support our work: https://bit.ly/45zyLRN