NBCU Local’s ‘Clear The Shelters’ Approaches Milestone as Monthlong Pet Adoption and Donation Campaign Launches

August 07, 2023

On Aug. 1, NBCUniversal Local’s annual Clear The Shelters pet adoption and donation campaign kicked off its ninth consecutive year. During the monthlong event, NBC and Telemundo stations across the U.S. and Puerto Rico are partnering with more than 1,300 shelters to help animals find new homes as the campaign nears a major milestone: one million all-time pet adoptions. 
 
Since its 2015 inception, NBCU Local’s Clear The Shelters has helped more than 860,000 pets find new homes. Last year's campaign set a new single-year record with more than 161,000 adoptions, while also raising more than $540,000. 

“We’re proud that Clear The Shelters supports the many outstanding shelters and rescues in our communities that perform the vital work of caring for vulnerable animals,” said Meredith McGinn, NBCU Local’s Executive Vice President of Diginets & Original Production. “This is a mission that brings together so many passionate people and partners throughout company and beyond to help pets find new homes and support shelters and rescues across the country.”  
 
Serving as the 2023 Clear The Shelters ambassador is teen entrepreneur, philanthropist and advocate Sir Darius Brown. The 16-year-old founder and CEO of pet accessories and lifestyle brand designed a special Clear The Shelters edition of his signature pet bow ties, which he sells and donates to help shelter pets get noticed by potential adopters.  
 
"I believe a bow tie is a symbol,” said Brown. “It gives them a form of importance. It's going to attract people to want to adopt a dog or a cat. For this year's Clear The Shelters, we want to help adopt our one-millionth pet. People should want to come together to uplift and inspire others to adopt and to really help us reach our goal." 

Brown was on hand for the Aug. 2 Clear The Shelters lifesaving pet airlift, a partnership between NBCULocal, Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Great Good Charities that marks the start of the campaign. More than 250 cats and dogs from overpopulated shelters were transported to New Jersey and New Hampshire to be received by shelters that can care for them and place them for adoption.  
 
NBCU Local’s annual pet adoption campaign was inspired by NBC 5 and Telemundo 39 Dallas-Fort Worth’s 2014 event that involved dozens of area shelters and resulted in the most adopted pets in one day for North Texas.  
 
To learn more about NBCU Local’s Clear The Shelters and search for adoptable pets in your area, visit cleartheshelters.com. You can also donate to your local animal shelters and rescue groups by visiting clearthesheltersfund.org.  
 
Make sure to follow along on social as the month unfolds: 
 
Clear The Shelters 
X: @ClearTheShelter  
Instagram: cleartheshelters  
Hashtags: #ClearTheShelters & #DesocuparLosAlbergues