Best Friends in Houston has teamed up with shelter partners throughout the greater Houston community for a citywide adoption event celebrating National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day on April 30.

Each year in the greater Houston area, nearly 90,000 dogs and cats enter shelters. To make sure every life is saved, community members stepping up and adopting their new best friends is essential to increasing lifesaving.

"Houston's shelters are struggling mightily to meet the needs of their community's pets while experiencing slower and slower adoption rates. Some shelters are forced to make tough decisions about just how many animals they can safely care for; and we are asking our communities to step in to save more lives," said Sophia Proler, Lifesaving Programs Manager, Best Friends in Houston. "Adopt a Shelter Pet Day is a perfect opportunity to show the pets in your area how much you care by bringing one home to adopt!"

Throughout the weekend of April 29-30, Best Friends shelter partners are offering reduced-fee and fee-waived adoptions. The first 100 visitors to adopt an animal from participating shelter partners will receive a swag bag filled with goodies care for and celebrate their new best friend. Festivities will also include free commemorative adoption day paw prints, supply raffle drawings, human and pet-friendly treats and a “Best Day Ever!” selfie station!

Adopt a Shelter Pet Day events are happening at participating shelter locations throughout the greater Houston community. Houstnians are encouraged to adopt from their local animal shelter to make a lifesaving impact for animals currently in need.

Festivities will also include free commemorative adoption day paw prints, supply raffle drawings, human and pet-friendly treats and a “Best Day Ever!” selfie station!

Shelter partners participating in the “Best Day Ever!” Adopt a Shelter Pet Day event include:

BARC Animal Shelter & Adoptions

City of Baytown Animal Services & Adoption Center

City of Pearland Animal Shelter & Adoption Center

Ft. Bend County Animal Services

Galveston Animal Resource Center

Harris County Pets

La Porte Animal Shelter

Montgomery County Animal Shelter

Rosenberg Animal Control & Shelter

SPCA Brazoria County

Sugar Land Animal Services

Pasadena Animal Shelter

Incentives and adoption fee discounts may vary from partner to partner, and potential adopters are encouraged to call or visit a shelter’s website for specific details.

A “Pet Preview” will be available for residents to learn more about adoptable animals next Friday on Best Friends in Houston’s Facebook page. To learn more about Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, visit bfas.org/adoptashelterpet.