The Roice-Hurst Humane Society has joined in a nationwide campaign promoting the adoption of shelter pets.

The Clear the Shelters event is usually held one weekend, but has been extended to a month to accommodate COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. 

In addition, a one-day adoption event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Roice-Hurst shelter at 368 28 Road in Grand Junction.

“While every day is the perfect day to give a deserving shelter pet a loving home, Clear the Shelters is a fun way to rally the whole community to come out and adopt,” said Anna Stout, chief executive officer of the Roice-Hurst Humane Society.

All adoption fees for available pets will be $50. All animals are spayed or neutered, microchipped and vaccinated, making the adoption package worth between $300 and $500. Pets are available for adoption on a first-come, first-served basis.

NBCUniversal, Telemundo and its affiliated television stations, including KKCO in Grand Junction, launched the Clear the Shelters initiative in 2015, which has helped find homes for more than 500,000 pets.

 “We’d love to see the shelter empty out by the end of the day, because every vacated kennel allows us to help another pet in need,” Stout said. “There are long wait lists at all the local shelters and across the state because of the impacts of the pandemic, such as people losing their livelihoods or housing, which leads to more pets ending up in shelters or rescues.”

The Roice-Hurst Humane Society operates a nonprofit shelter and adoption center that provides housing, medical treatment and care for dogs and cats as well as resources for pet owners. For more information visit www.rhhumanesociety.org