Have you been thinking about adding a four-legged family member to your home? Because August just might be the perfect time to do it.
The Franklin County Dog Shelter & Adoption Center is waiving adoption fees for the entire month of August as part of the nationwide Clear the Shelters campaign, making it easier than ever for local dogs to find loving homes.
From August 1 through August 31, every dog at the shelter can be adopted with no adoption fee. The only cost for adopters is the required $18 Franklin County dog license.
Located at 4340 Tamarack Blvd. on Columbus’ Northeast Side, the Franklin County Dog Shelter cares for thousands of dogs every year. The shelter serves all of Franklin County, taking in stray dogs, reuniting lost pets with their families whenever possible, and helping homeless dogs find permanent homes through adoption.
Anyone interested in adopting can simply stop by during the shelter’s regular business hours. No appointment is necessary, making it easy to meet the dogs currently looking for families.
Every adopted dog also comes ready for its next chapter.
Before heading home, dogs are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped, helping new owners save on some of the biggest upfront veterinary costs that often come with adoption.
Not quite ready to commit? The shelter has an option for that, too.
As part of the Clear the Shelters campaign, the Franklin County Dog Shelter is also hosting a sleepover event. Participants can take a dog home on August 14 or 15 and return them on August 16, giving both people and pups a chance to see how life together feels outside of the shelter environment.
The shelter provides everything you’ll need for the temporary stay, including food, a leash, toys, and any other necessary supplies. And if you fall in love during the weekend, you’re certainly not the first. Participants who decide they’d like to extend the sleepover or officially adopt their temporary companion can simply contact the shelter to make arrangements.
Programs like these have become a hallmark of the Franklin County Dog Shelter, which regularly finds creative ways to get dogs out of kennels and into homes.
Throughout the year, the shelter hosts special adoption promotions, reduced-fee events, and foster opportunities designed to give more dogs a chance to meet potential adopters in a less stressful environment.
The national Clear the Shelters campaign has helped hundreds of thousands of pets find homes since it launched in 2015, with animal shelters across the country participating each year. For local shelters, events like this can make a significant difference during the busy summer months, when many facilities are caring for more animals than usual.
If you’ve been waiting for the right time to adopt, this month offers a great opportunity. You can browse the available dogs online before visiting, or simply stop by the shelter and let one of the staff members introduce you to a pup who’s ready for a fresh start.
Sometimes your new best friend is just one kennel away.
