*UPDATE 8/21 10:30 a.m. – Some updated numbers for you.
As of Monday morning, Kennebec Humane Society in Augusta had 43 adoptions; Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland in Westbrook had 75 adoptions; Somerset Humane Society in Thomaston had 35 adoptions, with two pending; Humane Society of Waterville Area in Waterville had 52 adoptions; Greater Androscoggin Humane Society had 93 adoptions.
That's a total of 327 for Maine. More than 61,000 nationwide with numbers still coming in.
*UPDATE 8/19 5:30 p.m. – A total of 297 animals had been adopted across the state Saturday as of 5:30 p.m. in the Clear the Shelters event!
The Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland in Westbrook had the most adoptions Saturday at 75. The Westbrook location has since closed for the day.
Four other locations have also closed after a successful turnout.
The Kennebec Animal Humane Society in Augusta had 43 adoptions; the Somerset Humane Society in Skowhegan had 26 adoptions; the Pope Humane Society in Thomaston had 35 adoptions, along with two pending adoptions; and the Humane Society of Waterville Area in Waterville had 52 adoptions.
The Greater Androscoggin Humane Society in Lewiston had 62 adoptions as of 4 p.m. and will be closing up at 6 p.m.
The Ark Animal Shelter had four adoptions as of 4 p.m. and is closing up at 6 p.m., as well.
Thank you to everyone who adopted!
(NEWS CENTER) — Animal shelters across the country are teaming up with NBCUniversal and Telemundo to help families find and adopt a new pet, including right here in Maine.
On Saturday, August 19, seven shelters in Maine will offer waived or reduced pet adoption fees to Clear the Shelters. Reach out to your local shelter for more information about the event.
- Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland - Westbrook, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- Ark Animal Shelter - Cherryfield, 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.
- Greater Androscoggin Humane Society - Lewiston, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Pope Humane Society of Knox County - Thomaston, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Humane Society Waterville Area - Waterville, 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
- Kennebec Valley Humane Society - Augusta, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Somerset Humane Society - Skowhegan, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
RELATED: Clear the Shelters Map
Clear the Shelters is a community-driven pet adoption campaign that matches deserving animals with loving and permanent homes. It also raises awareness about the overcrowding issues that local animal shelters normally experience in the summer months because of spring litters.
Last year, Clear the Shelters resulted in nearly 20,000 animals finding new homes in one single day; 53,000 were adopted including the three weeks leading up to the event.
Clear the Shelters was initiated in 2014 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area as a partnership between NBC and Telemundo stations in the market and dozens of North Texas animal shelters. The effort resulted in the adoption of more than 2,200 homeless animals, the most adopted in one day in North Texas.
Thinking of adopting? Be sure to share your pictures with NEWS CENTER when you finally bring your new best friend home with the hashtag #LoveMyPet.
For a full list of participating shelters nationwide, click here.
#ClearTheShelters