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Photo by Sydney Croasmun.

Castaic Animal Shelter To Lower Adoption Fees For ‘Clear The Shelters Day’ (VIDEO)

Castaic Animal Shelter is one of more than 55 shelters and rescue organizations across Southern California set to lower its adoption fees in honor of the nationwide “Clear the Shelters Day” on Saturday, July 23.


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For one day only, cats are free to adopt courtesy of the ASPCA, and the adoption fee for dogs is reduced to just $20 plus the cost of a license.

Castaic Animal Shelter To Lower Adoption Rates For Clear The Shelters Day

A three-year-old bichon frise.

“I believe that (shelter pets) are one of the best pets ever because they’re going to show the most unconditional love,” said Kassandra Isaacson, an animal control attendant at the Castaic Shelter.

Approximately 60 dogs, 20 cats, five bunnies and one turtle were available for adoption at the shelter Thursday morning, and Isaacson is encouraging the Santa Clarita Valley community to choose adoption “because it saves lives.”

Those visiting the shelter this weekend can meet a curious two-year-old male German Shepherd mix with a lopsided ear who was found as a stray on July 19, and a playful three-year-old male bichon frise who was so matted when he was found on July 12, he had to be shaved down.  

While shelter staff noted the bichon frise, who hasn’t been named yet, already has someone interested in adopting him, dozens of other animals there haven’t been so lucky — at least not yet.

A 12-year-old tortie named Mindy has been a resident of the free-roaming cat room, called “The Cat Habitat,” for nearly a month, and came to the shelter on June 24 after her owner died.

Related: Lucky Number 13: Brittany Foundation Founder Shares Story Of 13 Dogs Rescued June 13

Castaic Animal Shelter To Lower Adoption Rates For ‘Clear The Shelters Day’

A 12-year-old tortie named Mindy.

Despite her senior status, sweet Mindy enjoys climbing up the cat perches decorating the walls of The Cat Habitat, where she can be eye level when she asks for pets and chin scratches.

Mindy’s sole roommate is a 14-year-old gray tabby named Lucy, who was found as a stray about six months ago and adopted. Lucy’s new owners returned her to the shelter on July 13 because she wasn’t getting along with the other pets in the home, but seems to be getting along with Mindy just fine so far.

Cali, a two-year-old gray and white domestic medium hair cat, is very talkative to humans who pass by her kennel, and came to the shelter on July 9.

The bunnies at the shelter are usually the hardest animals to adopt out, and Isaacson is hoping “Clear the Shelters Day” will help these and other harder-to-place pets get the extra attention they need from potential adopters.

“It gives them an opportunity to get adopted,” she said. “(The shelters are) so impacted… it just gives them a chance. It helps out, it really does.”

This is the second year Clear the Shelters Day is coming to southland shelters like Castaic Animal Shelter, and is hosted by NBC4 Southern California and Telemundo 52 Los Angeles.

The largest single pet adoption drive in Southern California, the event was created last year to help address the overcrowding at animal shelters and raise awareness about the benefits of adopting a shelter pet.

Castaic Animal Shelter To Lower Adoption Rates For Clear The Shelters Day

A talkative two-year-old named Cali.

More than 7.5 million pets wind up in U.S. shelters every year, and only about 2.7 million of these pets are adopted, according to the ASPCA.

However, events like “Clear the Shelters Day” are helping save the lives of thousands of animals by drawing scores of potential adopters to shelters and rescues across the country.

“Last year was really busy,” Isaacson said. “We adopted out a lot.”

Around 2,500 animals found homes during the inaugural “Clear the Shelters Day” last year, and approximately 20,000 pets were adopted nationwide.

Anyone interested in adopting a shelter pet can visit the Castaic Animal Shelter at 31044 Charlie Canyon Road from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday to search for their new best friend, and save a life.

Photos and video by Sydney Croasmun. All the animals pictured were in need of homes at the Castaic Animal Shelter on Thursday morning.

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Castaic Animal Shelter To Lower Adoption Fees For ‘Clear The Shelters Day’ (VIDEO)

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About Melissa Lampert-Abramovitch

Melissa Lampert-Abramovitch has been writing for KHTS since Feb. 2014. She currently writes “Community Spotlight” and feature stories, and coordinates all aspects of both the”KHTS Adopt a Pet” video feature series and “Top Things to Do in Santa Clarita.” She is the creator of “KHTS Adopt a Pet” and acted as News Editor from 2019-2020, as well as Features Director and Newsroom Manager from 2016-2018. A former Valley Publications Staff Writer, Melissa was a contributor to the Santa Clarita Gazette and Canyon Country Magazine from 2015-2016. She has published feature stories with Pet Me Magazine, The Pet Press, The Signal, COC's Cougar News, and KJAMS Radio.