Tag Archives: Empty the Shelters

BISSELL’s Empty the Shelters program helps pet crisis accelerated by pandemic

Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Pets/Animals, West Michigan, , ,

BISSELL Pet Foundation founder Cathy Bissell (Courtesy)

By Philip Janowski, WKTV Contributing Writer

The BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Empty the Shelters summer event aims to relieve stress on animal shelters across the country.

The annual event, which began July 11 and runs through July 31, hopes to provide a relief valve for the homeless pets.

Shelters are experiencing an all-time high of dog and cat residents that was accelerated by the COVID pandemic and the housing and rental crisis.

Fig and Friends Pet Rescue

“Intake numbers are up, adoption numbers are down,” said Julie Beukema, of Fig and Friends Pet Rescue. “Combine that with an increase in vet costs and the daily expenses of housing animals, and you have the perfect storm.

“Every inch of every shelter and rescue that I know is full.” 

During the nationwide Empty the Shelters event, the BISSELL Pet Foundation (also known as BPF) sponsors reduced adoption fees for $50 or less. The event is hosted at over 250 organizations in 42 states. In Michigan, nearly 40 sites are participating.

“Shelters are calling me daily, and BISSELL Pet Foundation is feeling the burden of overcrowding,” said Cathy Bissell, who founded BPF in 2011. “Empty the Shelters is the largest funded adoption event in the country, and by extending the event to three weeks, we can help meet the immediate need to save lives.”

Saving two lives: the adopted pet and the one taking its place in the shelter

The Empty the Shelters program itself started in 2016, and since its inception, over 96,000 pets have found homes at participating shelters in the United States and Canada. Events are held quarterly.

As part of the program the BPF pays the majority of adoption fees, allowing for adopters to take home a fully vaccinated, microchipped, and spayed or neutered pet. Shelters get a second chance to give pets they love a home. And pets win by finding a loving family.

“Shelters, rescues, and those involved in running them are in great distress,” explained Julie Beukema. “I continue to get calls every day from people wanting to surrender animals or from someone that found a cat or kitten. Yesterday, I had a request [to drop off] a mom cat and four kittens.” 

Local participating shelters include the Humane Society of West Michigan and the Kent County Animal Shelter. For more information, visit the BISSELL Pet Foundation’s website at https://www.bissellpetfoundation.org/ and the Empty the Shelters page at https://www.bissellpetfoundation.org/programs/empty-the-shelters/.

Best ‘dog-gone’ party in town: BISSELL Blocktail Party returns

3-bottom, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Pets/Animals, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , ,

By Philip Janowski
WKTV Contributing Writer

BISSELL Pet Foundation founder Cathy Bissell (Supplied)

The BISSELL Blocktail Party, West Michigan’s premier animal welfare fundraiser, is returning Tuesday, June 7. The last event in 2019 resulted in more than 1,000 guests — both human and canine — coming together to support homeless pets. Pet lovers and their four-legged friends are invited to this party with a purpose.

This year the event, which is from 6-9 p.m. at the East Grand Rapids track, will include live grilling with Celebrity Chef Paul Wahlberg of Wahlbergers. There will be adoptable pets from local shelters, including Labradors, Doodles, assorted puppies, and more. The popular silent auction is also returning with unique art and pet-themed packages.

Other attractions include DJ AB providing music, ArtPrize winner Chris LaPorte creating caricatures of furry friends, and even a specially created Blocktail IPA (I Prefer Adoption) beer.

“This year’s BISSELL Blocktail Party is going to be bigger and better than ever,” said Cathy Bissell, founder of the BISSELL Pet Foundation. “[The] Blocktail is BISSELL Pet Foundation’s primary fundraising event, providing critical support to give homeless pets a second chance. It wouldn’t be possible without the generous individuals who attend and sponsor the event.”

All of the proceeds will go directly to save homeless pets through grants from BISSELL Pet Foundation.

Besides a chance for fundraising, there’s good reason for celebration. In May, the BISSELL Pet Foundation announced a record number of adoptions for its National “Empty the Shelters” campaign. From May 2 to 15, more than 13,500 shelter pets in 45 states—approximately 6,035 cats and 7,469 dogs—were adopted through the event.

“Empty the Shelters” was created in 2016, and was originally hosted in just a few Michigan shelters. Since then, this event has grown to be BISSELL Pet Foundation’s most prominent program and the country’s largest funded adoption event. To date, “Empty the Shelters” has found homes for 96,068 pets and provided more than $7.6 million in direct funding to shelter partners.

“Right now, shelters are so full, and pets are experiencing longer stays,” Bissell said. “This is an expensive program for our small foundation, but it is a proven success. And we can’t turn our backs when we know we can save thousands of lives in one event.”

Tickets to the BISSELL Blocktail Party are available online for $100 per person and $50 for students with a valid student ID. Sponsors at $1,500 and above will receive tickets to the separate BISSELL Sponsor Party on June 6, which will have the talents of Lou Gramm and Asia featuring John Payne. Visit www.bissellblocktailparty.com for more details and to purchase tickets or be a sponsor for the event.