California Adopt-A-Pet-Day

To celebrate California Adopt-a-Pet Day, animal shelters across the state will offer fee-waived adoptions, removing adoption barriers for California residents, and opening the doors for more animals and more families. 

The third annual event builds on two consecutive years of impactful results. When California Adopt-a-Pet Day launched in 2024, 3,609 animals found loving homes — far outpacing initial goals. In 2025, animal welfare organizations adopted out 4,979 pets in a single day. This year, organizers are aiming to clear 5,000 adoptions for the first time.

The event comes as animal shelters nationwide continue to face ongoing capacity pressures from staffing shortages, limited pet-friendly housing, and a lack of affordable veterinary care. California Adopt-a-Pet Day was designed in part as a direct response to these challenges, removing cost as a barrier to adoption and drawing attention to the animals most in need of homes.

Animals of all breeds, ages, sizes, and energy levels are available at participating shelters, all of which routinely vaccinate, spay/neuter, and microchip animals before adoption. The California Adopt-a-Pet Day website has an interactive map, making it easy for you to find nearby participating animal shelters leading up to the event.

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