If you’ve been wanting to adopt a dog or a cat, this weekend is the perfect opportunity.
Dozens of animal shelters across New Jersey are participating in Clear the Shelters this weekend, the nationwide pet adoption drive created by NBC and Telemundo owned stations.
Shelters participating in the pet adoption drive offer steep discounts or completely waive their regular adoption fees. Clear the Shelters has helped more than 250,000 pets find their homes since 2015, according to the website.
“We encourage people to take the opportunity to visit their local shelter and see how many wonderful animals there are waiting for homes,” Lindsay Sanator, the media and marketing coordinator for Monmouth SPCA, said.
“Aside from the reduced fees being a draw, we're hoping the event can spread awareness about shelter animals in general, and how many of them would make great family pets,” she said.
The following shelters are offering free adoptions, or discounted adoptions, this weekend:
Atlantic County Animal Shelter
Offer: Take home a ready-for-adoption pet and your fee will be waived.
Dates: Saturday and Sunday, August 17 and 18
Time: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. each day
Address: 240 Old Turnpike Road, Pleasantville
Bergen County Animal Shelter and Adoption Center
Offer: Adoption fees are waived, but other adoption requirements apply (file an adoption application for approval and bring your lease if you rent).
Dates: Friday and Saturday, August 16 and 17
Time: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Address: 100 United Lane, Teterboro
Other info: Waived adoption fees include spay/neuter, age-appropriate vaccines, microchip and vet check.
Burlington County Animal Shelter
Offer: All adoption fees are waived.
Dates: Saturday, August 17
Time: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Address: 35 Academy Drive, Westampton Township
Cape May County Animal Shelter and Adoption Center
Offer: Adoption fees are waived (applications must be approved by the director).
Dates: Saturday August 17
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Address: 110 Shelter Road, Cape May Court House
Offer:
- Adult dogs in shelter/foster for 30+ days - 50 percent off adoption fee
- Adult cats in shelter - 50 percent off adoption fee
- Kittens - Adopt one for a regular fee, get one with no fee
Dates: Saturday, August 17
Time: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Address: 260 Wall Street, Eatontown
Other info: Starbucks of Sea Girt is serving complimentary drinks and pastries
Find other local adoption centers participating in Clear the Shelters this weekend at www.cleartheshelters.com.
Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com Follow her on Twitter @briannakudisch. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.
Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com’s newsletters.