Want to adopt a pet for the family? Well, now is the perfect time to do so at Lafayette Animal Shelter and Care Center (LASCC).

An "Empty the Shelters" event, along with partner BISSELL Pet Foundation, is happening May 1 - 15, 2024.

BISSELL Pet Foundation is a national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending pet homelessness.

LASCC will waive pet adoption fees during the event and the foundation will reimburse the shelter $50 for every dog adopted and $25 for every cat.

"Our biggest need is adopters for large dogs," LASCC Adoption Supervisor Misty Gilbert said. "Most people gravitate toward the little dogs, but we have so many awesome large breed dogs -- some are housebroken, they know basic commands, they are known to get along with children, and these dogs deserve a loving home."

Since 2016, BISSELL Foundation adoption events have helped in putting nearly 200,000 pets across the country into loving homes.

"Our nation’s animal shelters are facing an overcrowding crisis unlike anything we have experienced in more than a decade. Opening your home to a shelter pet saves a life and creates space to give another pet a chance,” Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation said.

LASCC'S "Empty the Shelters" Event

  • October 2-14, 2023
  • Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays from Noon to 2:00 p.m.
  • All pets are spayed or neutered, fully vaccinated, and microchipped

You can view available pets at https://www.lafayettela.gov/lascc/adopt/available-pets.

LOOK: Here are the pets banned in each state

Because the regulation of exotic animals is left to states, some organizations, including The Humane Society of the United States, advocate for federal, standardized legislation that would ban owning large cats, bears, primates, and large poisonous snakes as pets.

Read on to see which pets are banned in your home state, as well as across the nation.

Gallery Credit: Elena Kadvany

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