A loving home is on holiday wish lists for thousands of animals in the greater Houston area –even a short stay with a holiday foster family can mean so much for dogs and cats while they await adoption. As animal shelters throughout the greater Houston area continue to reel from post-covid related impacts, many are operating over capacity and need the support of the community to save lives.

The Home for the Holidays event series presented by Best Friends Animal Society, in collaboration with BARC, Harris County Animal Shelter, Montgomery Animal Shelter, Fort Bend County Animal Services, City of Baytown Animal Services & Adoption Center, Rosenberg Animal Control & Shelter, Sugarland Animal Services, Houston Humane Society, SPCA of Brazoria and Pasadena Animal Shelter will be held throughout December with the shared goal of placing as many animals as possible into loving adoptive or foster homes for the holidays. Many participating shelters are offering fee-waived adoptions—visit https://bfas.org/homefortheholidays for a full list, their adoption fees and adoption event hours. Adopted pets will come spayed or neutered, microchipped, and have age-appropriate vaccinations. Every adopted pet will also go home with a festive, keepsake bandana and a special holiday gift bag with items to help them adjust to their new home.

Visitors attending a Home for the Holidays event will also enjoy complimentary hot chocolate, treats, and can make commemorative pawprint ornaments and cards. Santa will also be making a special trip from the North Pole to visit with adopters and their new pets.

Home for the Holidays December Event Series:

Saturday, December 3rd 12pm-4pm

City of Baytown Adoptions and Animal Services

Saturday, December 10th 11am-3pm

Pasadena Animal Services

Saturday, December 17th 10am-5pm

Fort Bend County Fairgrounds Home for the Holidays Adoption event

Sunday, December 18th 11am-3pm

Harris County Pets

“Right now, thousands of lovable pets are waiting in our local shelters for a home to call their own,” said Sophia Proler, Houston Program Manager at Best Friends Animal Society. “Through this lifesaving collaboration, we hope that the greater Houston community will get to experience the comfort and joy of adopting a new best friend this holiday season.”

If you are unable to commit to adopting, you can still grant a shelter pets’ wishes in these ways:

•Give a shelter animal a gift—Bring a little joy and enrichment to a shelter animal this holiday season by purchasing an item from the shelter’s wish list or making a donation on behalf of the shelter animals.

•Give the gift of time—In the spirit of the season consider “gifting” your time as a volunteer or foster. Volunteers are such a valuable resource to animal shelters that are currently understaffed by providing daily enrichment to animals.

•Spread the word—Follow Best Friends in Houston on Facebook and Instagram. Use @BFAS_Houston to share stories of adoptable animals through social media to increase awareness and help find them homes.