Report Cruelty

Every winter, the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area (HSHA) hosts a special adoption event in hopes of getting as many homeless animals as possible a home for the holidays. HSHA is one of more than 275 participating shelters across the country joining the BISSELL Pet Foundation this holiday season with its “Empty the Shelters – Holiday Hope event”, in this lifesaving effort to take deserving pets from kennels to the couches of loving homes.

WHAT:   HSHA is participating in BISSELL Pet Foundation is hosting its “Empty the Shelters – Holiday Hope” adoption event on Saturday, December 3rd with its annual Holiday Adopt-a-Thon. This event features reduced adoption rates of $20 for dogs and $10 for cats/kittens and critters. Adoption fee includes spay/neuter surgery, microchip, vaccinations, and flea treatment.    As the nation’s largest funded adoption event, “Empty the Shelters” has helped 117,615 pets find loving homes through sponsoring reduced adoption fees of $50 or less.

WHEN:  Saturday, December 3rd, 2022.  The shelter will be open from 11am to 6pm (note the extended Saturday hours).  Any adoption application received for a resident from 10am – 7pm on Saturday, December 3rd is eligible for the reduced adoption rate.

WHERE:   Humane Society of Harrisburg Area, 7790 Grayson Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111

INTERVIEWS:     We hope you can visit us during our event dates to get photos, video and learn more about our adoptable pets and the families meeting and adopting these deserving pets.    Media interested in attending can visit any time during our open shelter hours, 11am to 6pm. During the event, your contact will be Courtney Foor, Director of Intake and Placements, courtneyf@humanesocietyhbg.org.  Visuals at the adoption events includes HSHA staff and volunteers, potential adopters, animals available for adoption and more.

QUOTE:  “Shelters are overcrowded and in desperate need of support due to slowed adoption rates and increased length of stay for pets,” said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “With so many people seeking to add pets to their family around this time of year, our ‘Empty the Shelters – Holiday Hope’ event is the perfect opportunity to make a difference in your community by saving a life and creating space to give another homeless pet a chance.”

DETAILS:  Below are some talking points and additional facts about BISSELL Pet Foundation and HSHA:

  • BISSELL Pet Foundation was founded in 2011 by Cathy Bissell, and its work has touched the lives of nearly 590,000 pets and counting.
  • “Empty the Shelters” is the largest funded adoption event and has helped more than 126,000 pets find homes in 47 states and Canada since its inception in 2016.
  • “Empty the Shelters” provides reduced adoption fees at shelters, typically ranging from $0 to $50 per animal adoption.
  • Our nation’s shelters are overburdened and need community support. Please consider fostering or donating if you unable to add a pet to your family.
  • The Humane Society of Harrisburg Area assists over 10,000 animals a year through our residential care and adoption program, low-cost veterinary clinics, pet food bank, and counseling services.
  • At any given time, there can be close to 500 animals under our care.
  • HSHA serves Dauphin, Cumberland, and Perry Counties– an area of more than 500,000 people.
  • HSHA is not affiliated or funded by any national animal welfare organizations and relies solely on the community for donations.

INFO:   Media contacts for BISSELL Pet Foundation: Brittany Schlacter | Marketing & PR Specialist |  Brittany.Schlacter@BISSELL.com | c. 616.600.9470
Media contact for the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area: Amanda Brunish | Director of Marketing & Outreach | AmandaB@humanesocietyhbg.org  | o. 717.564.3320 x125

Please note we close to the public at 3pm on New Year's Eve.  The shelter is closed New Year's Day, but be sure to join us at the Penguin Plunge on City Island. Learn more at www.thepenguinplunge.com!

Please note we close at 3pm to the public on Christmas Eve and are closed Christmas Day. Thank you and Happy Holidays!