If bringing a new furry family member into your home has been on your mind recently, the time to do that is now!

Operating at max capacity is nothing new for animal shelters in the Rockford area, but what breaks my heart is the number of larger dogs and older cats that are often overlooked by potential adopters who visit the shelter. Overcrowding for older, larger animals is becoming such a problem that it has led Winnebago County Animal Services to partner with the Bissell Pet Foundation for a special "Empty the Shelters: Big Dog & Cat Crisis” emergency event through this Sunday, August 22, 2021.

Winnebago County Animal Services partners with the Bissell Pet Foundation a couple of times each year for sponsored adoption events, but this one is entirely focused on finding homes for bigger, senior dogs and cats one year and older.

Now through this Saturday, August 22, the adoption fee for senior dogs (all sizes) and dogs over 40 pounds will be $25, and all cats over 1 year old will also be $25 to adopt.

Check out pics of the dogs and cats included in this adoption special now at winnebagoanimals.org, and you can fill out an adoption application while you're there too so you're one step ahead of the game. Winnebago County Animal Services will be open for adoptions from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today through Friday, and from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, so make sure you go pick out your new best friend!

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