THE FOLLOWING IS A VERMILION COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER RELEASE
Nation’s Largest Funded Adoption Event Brings Relief to Overcrowded Shelters and Homes to Pets in Need
Danville, IL – 8/10/2026 – The Vermilion County Animal Shelter (VCAS) joined BISSELL Pet Foundation’s nationwide Empty the Shelters® adoption event, helping pets find loving homes through reduced adoption fees. During the event, participating shelters across the country collectively helped 22,617 pets find loving homes, including 9,383 dogs and 13,234 cats.
From the Vermilion County Animal Shelter, 133 total animals, including 52 dogs and 81 cats, were adopted in only 14 days. 84 of those adoptions were on-site or from foster homes, and 49 were from PetSmart.
Kate Suchodolski, Shelter Programs Manager at VCAS, shared, “From our data, this appears to be our largest and most successful event yet! Everyone in our shelter community came together — staff, volunteers, fosters, interns, adopters, donors, and supporters – to bring as many animals into loving homes as possible.”
The Vermilion County Animal Shelter participated in the event from July 13-26 across multiple locations. Adoptions were held at the main shelter location, the PetSmart in Champaign, and directly from foster homes. Adoption fees were $0 for all animals, across all locations.
“Our adoption process remains the same year-round, but events like this bring much-needed attention to adoption,” shared Ryan Goodner, Director at VCAS. “They provide an opportunity to raise awareness, connect more people with adoptable animals, and ultimately help more pets find loving homes.”
The Vermilion County Animal Shelter participated alongside 306 animal welfare organizations across 37 states during BISSELL Pet Foundation’s largest national adoption event. BISSELL Pet Foundation sponsored reduced adoption fees of $70 or less for cats and dogs, helping make pet adoption more accessible for families looking to welcome a new companion.
“Every adoption that happens through Empty the Shelters is real relief for a shelter and a fresh start for a pet,” said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “We are deeply grateful to our shelter partners, donors and everyone who chose adoption during one of the toughest months of the year for shelters — when surrenders, strays, weather emergencies and staff shortages push them to their limits. The need doesn’t stop when the event is over. We hope you’ll keep spreading the word and encouraging friends and family to choose adoption.”
Visit https://www.vercounty.org/animal-shelter/ for adoptable pets, shelter information, and upcoming events. For the most current information on events, follow https://www.facebook.com/vercountyanimalshelter on Facebook.
About BISSELL Pet Foundation
BISSELL Pet Foundation (BPF) is a charitable 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to help reduce the number of animals in shelters through pet adoption, spay/neuter, microchipping, and crisis and disaster response. Founded in 2011 by Cathy Bissell, BPF is an extension of her long-standing love for animals and commitment to their welfare. BPF has since partnered with more than 6,025 shelters and rescues across the U.S. and Canada to help pets find loving homes. The foundation is supported by generous donors and BISSELL Homecare, Inc., where every purchase saves pets. To learn more, visit ***.bissellpetfoundation.org.
