The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC) is proud to announce its partnership with NBCUniversal and Telemundo 52 for the 2026 Clear the Shelters campaign. Throughout the month of August, DACC will waive adoption fees at all seven of its animal care centers as part of this nationwide effort to help pets find loving, permanent homes.
Clear the Shelters, now in its twelfth year, has helped more than 1.3 million animals find a second chance at a forever home since its inception in 2015. Shelters across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Guam participate in the annual campaign, raising awareness of pet adoption and highlighting the ongoing need to reduce shelter overcrowding. An estimated 5 million dogs and cats enter animal shelters nationwide each year, underscoring the critical importance of initiatives like Clear the Shelters.
Participating County of Los Angeles Animal Care Centers:
- Agoura Animal Care Center 29525 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills
- Baldwin Park Animal Care Center 475 North Elton Street, Baldwin Park
- Santa Clarita Valley Animal Care Center 31044 Charlie Canyon Road, Castaic
- Carson/Gardena Animal Care Center 216 West Victoria Road, Gardena
- Downey Animal Care Center 11258 South Garfield Avenue Downey
- Lancaster Animal Care Center 5210 West Avenue I ,Lancaster
- Palmdale Animal Care Center 38550 Sierra Highway, Palmdale
“Clear the Shelters is one of the most impactful animal welfare events of the year,” said Director Marcia Mayeda. “By removing financial barriers to adoption, we open the door for more families to welcome a new companion into their lives. Every pet adopted not only gains a loving home but also helps relieve the pressure on our shelters and staff. We are grateful to partner again with NBCUniversal and encourage our community to visit a shelter this August and help give these animals the second chance they deserve.”
For more information on Clear the Shelters 2026 or to view adoptable animals, please visit DACC’s website at https://animalcare.lacounty.gov/ or contact us by going to https://animalcare.lacounty.gov/contact-us/,
“Every animal in our care system deserves a safe and loving home, and this month offers an opportunity to bring joy into your life by adopting a shelter pet,” said Los Angeles County Board Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. “Many adoptable pets enter shelters through no fault of their own, often as a result of rising housing costs, a lack of pet-friendly housing, deportation, abuse, neglect or displacement caused by emergencies across Los Angeles County. Clear the Shelters Month is about more than waiving adoption fees. It is an opportunity to give a deserving animal a second chance and find a loyal companion for life.”
