The annual Clear The Shelters event hit a record-breaking milestone in 2024, with NBC 5 Chicago and Telemundo Chicago broadcasting the joyous news that 2,819 pets found new homes in the Chicago area alone during the month-long campaign. According to NBC 5 Chicago, this was part of a nationwide effort that helped 168,832 pets across all states find their forever families, marking the initiative’s most successful run since its conception in 2015.
In the wake of Hurricane Debby, Chicago has opened its arms to nearly 200 displaced pets from the inundated shelters of Coastal South Carolina. ABC 7 Chicago reports a variety of animals, including puppies, dogs, cats, kittens, guinea pigs, rabbits, and more, arrived Wednesday in anticipation of the event. The Anti-Cruelty Society, located at 157 West Grand Avenue, will host these furry friends this Saturday, waiving all fees to expedite their adoption during these hard times. ABC 7 Chicago notes that the event will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., providing ample time for Chicagoans to meet their potential new family members.
The generous spirit of Chicagoans is evident in the successful fundraising efforts accompanying the adoptions. It's reported that an astonishing amount of more than $500,000 was raised to support the participating local animal shelters during the donation period from August 1 to September 30. Since its inception in 2015, the Clear The Shelters initiative has facilitated nearly 1.2 million adoptions nationwide and has garnered over $5 million in donations to aid animal shelters.
"It was our honor to once again partner with our local animal shelters and rescues to help area pets find new homes, along with supporting the tremendous efforts of the shelters that care for them when they’re most vulnerable," Kevin Cross, President & General Manager of NBCUniversal Local Chicago, expressed in a statement regarding the campaign’s success. The collaboration with Greater Good Charities, WeRescue, and national sponsor Hill's Pet Nutrition has been instrumental in expanding the campaign’s impact, a testament to which is the substantial increase in adoptions and donations each year.
