KFOR hosts Clear the Shelters, helping animals find forever homes

OKLAHOMA CITY ( KFOR ) — Canines, felines and equines! News 4, in partnership with the NBC Network, hosted ‘ Clear The Shelters ‘ on Saturday. An annual adoption program to help beloved sheltered animals find their forever homes.

Clear the Shelters has returned for its 10th straight year. Nationwide adoptions have taken place for this years event, having started on August 10 until September 10.

The campaign surpassed 1 million all-time adoptions in 2023 and looks to continue by finding homes for all animals currently housed in shelters around the country.

Many shelters in Oklahoma are overcrowded with dogs, cats and even horses; needing relief to lower the amount of animals they have currently sheltered. Looking for kind and caring homes for them to be adopted to.

More than a dozen local shelters participated in Saturdays nationwide effort to ‘Clear the Shelters.’

“We get filled up. So having an opportunity like this where we can reduce the price one day, make sure that animals are finding good homes, is great for us,” said Mark Eby, CEO Oklahoma Humane Society.

Eby says that for those who don’t know if they’re ready to adopt, the Oklahoma Humane Society allows visitors to come in and meet multiple animals, take them out for a walk, spend time with them and play with them to get an understanding of what they’re like.

Dogs like Brixey , at the OK Humane Society, are ready to find their next best friend and forever home.

“She’s completely house trained, crate trained, does great around dogs, cats, incredibly well mannered. Just loves to be a person’s dog. She will follow you everywhere you go in the house, and she’ll be a couch potato,” says Destinee Ratley, Foster Program Coordinator, with the Oklahoma Humane Society.

Shelters like OK Humane Society are even offering specials right now for those who come in.

“We have some great specials that, if somebody comes in and buys $30 worth of product, they get a free dog bed,” says Eby. “Also, if you come in and adopt a dog right now, you get a free dog bed. On September 7th, we’ll have half price adoptions for any animal that’s in our shelter.”

Oklahoma Humane Society will have last call for adoptions at 5:30 p.m. today. Normal business hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Dogs and cats are not the only animal up for adoption during Clear The Shelters. On Saturday, September 7, there will be a specific Clear The Shelters event for horse adoptions.

Nexus Equine, Horse and Hound, and the ASPCA will join OKC Animal Welfare for this unique horse adoption event.

News 4 will continue to bring you more information in the upcoming weeks as horses have a vital role in agriculture-related businesses, law enforcement and as therapy animals.

If you would like to adopt a forever friend and provide them with a great home; dog, cat, or horse, here is a list of local shelters participating in this year’s ‘Clear The Shelter’ event:

• Friends of the Shelter Foundation
• Oklahoma City Animal Shelter
• Custer County Friends For Life Animal Society
• Horse and Hound Rescue Foundation
• ASPCA Equine Transition and Adoption Center
• The Oklahoma Humane Society
• Tuttle Animal Shelter
• Mutt Misfits Animal Rescue Society
• Nexus Equine
• Okie Kitty Kisses Rescue

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