171 cats and dogs find new homes during Lawrence Humane Society’s Clear the Shelter special

photo by: Lawrence Humane Society

The Lawrence Humane Society adopted out 60 dogs on Saturday as part of its Clear the Shelter Day.

Updated at 9:50 a.m. Monday, Sept. 9

Sixty dogs and 71 cats got new homes Saturday after the Lawrence Humane Society hosted its annual Clear the Shelter Day, when all adoption fees are waived.

In addition to those 131 animals, 13 other dogs were adopted at no charge during a two-week lead-up to Clear the Shelter Day, including Peanut, a dog who had been in need of a home for over two years. The Humane Society continued the fee waiver on Sunday, and 14 more dogs and 13 cats were adopted — for a grand total of 171 in the two-week span.

photo by: Lawrence Humane Society

Peanut, who had needed a home for more than two years, was one of the dogs adopted as part of the Lawrence Humane Society’s Clear the Shelter special.

Typically adoption fees are around $150 for adult dogs, $300 for puppies, $60 for adult cats and $125 for kittens.

photo by: Lawrence Humane Society

The Lawrence Humane Society adopted out 60 dogs on Saturday as part of its Clear the Shelter Day.

Elina Alterman, a spokeswoman for the humane society, said she wanted to dispel the notion that animals adopted for free are more likely to be returned to the shelter or not properly cared for.

“I just want to assure the community that that is not the case,” she said in an email. “We’ve been participating in Clear the Shelter for 10 years and we do not see a higher rate of adoption returns from this event. …[W]e get updates every single year from folks who adopted their pets on Clear the Shelter in past years, and all of these updates would warm anyone’s heart!”

photo by: Lawrence Humane Society

The Lawrence Humane Society adopted out 60 dogs on Saturday as part of its Clear the Shelter Day.

photo by: Lawrence Humane Society

Lawrence Humane Society staff and volunteers on Clear the Shelter Day, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024.

photo by: Lawrence Humane Society

Two signs tally up the animals adopted Saturday at the Lawrence Humane Society.