BARC Houston Offers Reduced-Fee Pet Adoptions During BISSELL Pet Foundation’s 'Empty the Shelters' Event Dec. 1–15
This December, BARC, the City of Houston’s Animal Shelter and Adoption Center, is teaming up with the BISSELL Pet Foundation to bring holiday hope to Houston’s homeless pets through the Empty the Shelters – Holiday Hope adoption event. From December 1–15, 2025, adoption fees at BARC will be significantly reduced, giving more local families the chance to welcome a new four-legged friend home for the holidays.
Through this nationally recognized initiative, BISSELL Pet Foundation sponsors lower adoption fees at shelters across the country to increase accessibility for families during the holiday season. At BARC’s location at 3300 Carr St, Houston, TX 77026, adoption fees will be just $50 for puppies under four months, $20 for dogs five months and older, and $10 for all cats and kittens.
Each adoption includes a full range of services—spay or neuter surgery, microchipping, deworming, flea prevention, age-appropriate vaccines including rabies, and a one-year pet registration with the City of Houston.
To ensure more people can participate, BARC will extend adoption hours to include Mondays, a day the shelter is normally closed. From December 1–15, BARC will be open daily from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. for adoptions.
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“This year has placed enormous pressure on shelters across the country, as more families face financial hardship and housing changes that force them to surrender beloved pets,” said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. She emphasized the incredible value in adoption, adding that shelters are filled with pets who are often house-trained, vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and ready to become part of a family.
Locally, BARC continues to respond to increasing demand for shelter space and services. The municipal shelter takes in more than 20,000 animals annually, regardless of breed, condition, or behavior. The organization also operates low-cost veterinary services, mobile adoptions, and animal control to promote health and safety throughout the Houston area.
“Many families are feeling the strain this year, and shelters are feeling it too,” said Jarrad Mears, BARC Shelter Director. “By lowering fees and opening extra days, we hope to make adoption accessible for more households.”
Mears said that events like Empty the Shelters not only help pets find homes, but also ease pressure on local shelters, allowing them to provide better care and outreach services.
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Since its inception in 2016, the Empty the Shelters campaign has helped more than 374,000 pets across the U.S. and Canada find homes. The initiative is the largest funded adoption event in the country, with BISSELL Pet Foundation partnering with over 6,025 shelters and rescue groups to promote adoption and reduce shelter overpopulation.
BARC’s participation gives Houstonians a meaningful way to end the year by giving back—and bringing home a loyal companion.
For more information about BARC, adoptable pets, or to begin the adoption process, visit houstonbarc.com. Details about BISSELL Pet Foundation and national adoption programs can be found at bissellpetfoundation.org.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
