Meatball who has been relying on the care of Chautauqua County Humane Society since April 14 2025.

The Chautauqua County Humane Society will join animal shelters and rescues across the country to participate in the ASPCA’s Rescue Effect campaign to raise awareness about the importance of pet adoption and place more animals into loving homes.

During the effort, the Humane Society will offer fee waived adoptions on Aug. 9, Aug. 23 and Sept. 6 and Sept. 20.

Most shelters across the country are full with nearly six million dogs and cats entering shelters and rescues in 2024, and animals, especially dogs, are often staying longer in care before being adopted. Choosing to adopt helps the animal you take home and supports many more by freeing up space and resources. Animal shelters have pets of all sizes, ages and an array of wonderful personalities, and if you aren’t able to adopt, temporarily fostering also helps free up space for other animals in need.

Chautauqua County Humane Society officials said they are grateful to the ASPCA for awarding the Humane Society a Rescue Effect Grant which will be used to prepare dogs and cats for adoption as well as to offer four different days of fee-waived adoptions to the public. The program was instituted by the ASPCA to help participating shelters adopt out more dogs and cats during the fee-waived adoption events in order to free up space to be able to bring in more animals in need, hence the “Rescue Effect.”

Launching in August and continuing through October, the Rescue Effect is the ASPCA’s national campaign dedicated to helping organizations increase adoptions and engage the public. This year, the ASPCA is providing $2 million in grants to cover adoption fees and support operations at many participating shelters and rescue groups across the country with some holding fee-waived adoption events.

For more information about the Chautauqua County Humane Society, visit chqhumane.org, or learn more about the ASPCA’s Rescue Effect campaign at ASPCA.org/TheRescueEffect.

The Chautauqua County Humane Society is a 501c3 not for profit organization serving Chautauqua County since 1905. The Mission of the Chautauqua County Humane Society is to empower the community to improve the lives of animals.