August is Clear the Shelters Month, and to help more shelter dogs find forever homes, a beloved cartoonist has launched a new campaign. Patrick McDonnell, creator of the famous comic strip MUTTS, is also the founder of the Adopt Love campaign, a partnership that raises awareness about pet adoption and fostering.¹

In New York City in particular, the shelters are overcrowded. This year, the Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) reached full capacity for the first time in its history, meaning it has had to turn away homeless animals. The Adopt Love Campaign features partnerships with the ACC, as well as Muddy Paws Rescue and Isabel Klee, the human behind @SimonSits.

Keep reading to learn more about this important campaign and see how you can help!

All About MUTTS

MUTTS is a comic strip by Patrick McDonnell that was first published back in 1994. It features two pets: a dog named Earl, who was inspired by McDonnell’s Jack Russell Terrier, and a cat named Mooch.

In the comics, Earl and Mooch befriend all sorts of animals, including dogs and cats in need of adoption. Every year, McDonnell even dedicates two weeks to “Shelter Stories,” aimed at raising awareness about shelter animals and the urgent need for adoption. You can see one of them below:

The Adopt Love Campaign

McDonnell’s Adopt Love campaign has a few different focuses. It is fundraising for ACC’s Special Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Fund, which helps fund medical and surgical care for cats, dogs, and rabbits. The campaign is also spotlighting individual adoptable pets at the ACC, like those seen below, publishing new adoption-themed comic strips and art, and sharing content from their partners.

What’s Clear the Shelters Month?

Clear the Shelters is a nationwide adoption and donation program that takes place annually in August. Since its inception in 2015, the program has facilitated an amazing 1,209,173 adoptions, with 20,593 so far this year. Sponsored by NBC Universal, Clear the Shelters works with a vast network of shelters and rescues all over the United States.

Animal shelters are often overwhelmed, especially during puppy and kitten season (summer), which can force them to euthanize healthy pets or simply turn them away. The number of animals in US shelters has been rapidly rising since 2021, likely due to housing insecurity and rising pet care costs. Adoption rates just haven’t kept up, leading to shelter and rescue overcrowding.

How Can You Help?

If you’re in a position to foster or adopt a dog or cat, now is a great time to contact your local shelters and rescues. Fostering may be easier than you think: many shelters and rescues provide supplies and cover the cost of medical care.

You can also donate directly to the ACC, the STAR fund, or your local animal welfare organizations. Dropping off supplies at your local shelter is always a good idea (but make sure you check what they can use first). You can also volunteer to walk or cuddle with dogs, clean kennels, help with adoption events, or take adorable adoption photos.

Don’t forget about social media! Share campaigns like this one with your friends and family. You never know who might be ready to provide a furr-ever home…

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