Holiday Hope for Houston’s Shelter Pets
BARC, the City of Houston’s Animal Shelter and Adoption Center, is joining the BISSELL Pet Foundation’s national Empty the Shelters – Holiday Hope event from Dec. 1–15, 2025. The initiative aims to help more pets find homes during a time when shelters nationwide are stretched to capacity.
Reduced Adoption Fees
Thanks to BISSELL Pet Foundation’s sponsorship, BARC is offering significantly lowered fees during the two-week event:
- $50 for puppies four months or younger
- $20 for dogs five months and older
- $10 for all cats and kittens
All adoptions include spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, dewormer, flea prevention, a microchip and a one-year City of Houston pet registration.
Extended Adoption Hours
To give more families a chance to adopt, BARC will open on Mondays during the event—typically a closed day. Adoption hours will run 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily at 3300 Carr St.
Helping Pets During a Challenging Year
Shelters nationwide have experienced increased surrenders due to financial strain and housing instability, said Cathy Bissell, founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. She emphasized that adopting a shelter pet offers families an affordable, meaningful alternative to buying from breeders or pet stores.
BARC Shelter Director Jarrad Mears added that reducing fees and expanding hours makes adoption possible for more households: “A loving home is the greatest gift a pet can receive.”
National Impact
Empty the Shelters is the largest funded adoption event in the country, helping more than 374,000 pets find homes since 2016. Participating shelters set their own adoption procedures, and all pets come spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped.
Houston families interested in adopting are encouraged to contact BARC directly for details.
For more on animal welfare, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.