NBCUniversal Local’s ‘Clear the Shelters’ Surpasses 1 Million All-Time Adoptions During Successful 2023 Campaign

September 13, 2023

NBCUniversal Local’s Clear The Shelters nationwide pet adoption and donation initiative surpassed one million adoptions since its 2015 inception as more than 157,000 pets found new homes during the 2023 campaign, which ran Aug. 1 to 31. In addition, more than $575,000 has already donated to participating shelters as part of the initiative’s fundraising effort, which remains active through Sept. 30 in recognition of the milestone.

Each August for the last nine years, NBC and Telemundo owned and affiliated stations partner with animal shelters and rescues in their communities to promote pet adoption and raise money to fund shelters’ operations. During this year’s monthlong event, 152 NBC and Telemundo owned and affiliated stations collaborated with more than 1,400 shelters covering 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam.

“It’s been an immense privilege to witness the growth of Clear The Shelters from a local initiative led by our stations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, NBC 5 and Telemundo 39, to a nationwide cause that has helped a million pets find new homes,” said NBCUniversal Local Chairman Valari Staab. “This campaign’s driving force has always been the employees, partners, stations and sponsors who generously contribute time, effort and resources each year. We thank them and all those who’ve adopted and donated over the last nine years.”

Taking a lead role in this year’s Clear The Shelters was 16-year-old entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Darius Brown, who served as campaign ambassador, as well as a shelter advocate for longtime national sponsor Hill's Pet Nutrition. As part of his role, the founder and C.E.O of Beaux & Paws, a pet accessories and lifestyle brand, designed a special edition of his signature pet bow ties, which were sold at Beaux & Paws and The Shop at NBC Studios. 

Brown participated in a special project to celebrate the start of this year’s campaign. On Aug. 2, NBCUniversal Local, Greater Good Charities, Hill’s Pet Nutrition and The Animal Rescue Site partnered on a lifesaving pet airlift from Florida to New Jersey and New Hampshire. In total, 193 dogs and 76 cats were transported from overcrowded shelters in the Southeast to 16 shelters across the Northeast, where they were made available for adoption. 

Special shows highlighting Clear The Shelters were also presented across the nation to help kickoff this year’s Clear The Shelters.

TODAY co-hosts Dylan Dreyer and Sheinelle Jones led the Clear The Shelters special that aired on NBC stations, COZI TV and the NBC local news streaming channels. The Desocupar Los Albergues special on Telemundo and the Telemundo regional news streaming channels was hosted by Elva Saray of Acesso Total and Andrea Meza, host of Hoy Dia and En Casa Con Telemundo. 

Other notable aspects of this year’s campaign include the several financial contributions provided by longtime campaign supports to participating shelters and rescues in support of Clear The Shelters.

Greater Good Charities and The Animal Rescue Site delivered surprise grants and pet supplies to three randomly selected shelters in August. Homeward Trails Animal Rescue Adoption Center in Fairfax Station, Va., the San Diego Humane Society and the Pennsylvania SPCA in Philadelphia each received $10,000, along with blankets, bowls, toys and more.

In addition, the nonprofits made a $10,000 contribution to New York’s Bideawee on Sept. 13 to celebrate the one million adoption milestone, while Hill’s Pet Nutrition added 10,000 meals worth of pet food, which was delivered to the shelter’s new location in Manhattan.

In addition, during the campaign, Hill’s Pet Nutrition and The Animal Rescue Site provided matching donations to the Clear The Shelters Fund. In total, Hill’s Pet Nutrition ($50,000) and The Animal Rescue Site ($15,000) provided $65,000 in dollar-for-dollar matches.

Visit ClearTheShelters.com and the Spanish-language DesocuparlosAlbergues.com for more information, or follow Clear The Shelters on social media at:

• X: @ClearTheShelter
• Instagram: cleartheshelters
• Hashtags: #ClearTheShelters & #DesocuparLosAlbergues