On Saturday, August 17, Homeward Trails is joining with shelters across the county to help Clear the Shelters.  Clear the Shelters in a nationwide initiative to connect homeless pets in need with loving families like yours! This is a groundbreaking pet adoption campaign where NBC and Telemundo team up with more than 300 animal shelters across the United States and Puerto Rico to help find homes for homeless pets. Last year, over 80,000 pets were adopted on this one-day national event!

We’re so excited about finding our animals forever homes that we not only want to clear the shelter, but some of our foster homes too!  We’re extending our Clear the Shelters adoption fee discounts to all our adoption events on Saturday so be sure to stop by our Adoption Center or one of our events to meet the dog or cat of your dreams! Many of our wonderful cats and dogs will have waived anf reduced adoption fees!

Homeward Trails Adoption Center – Dogs and Cats
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
11116 Fairfax Station Rd.
Fairfax Station, VA 22039

***Please note that we will be very busy and pets will get adopted very quickly. Pets are available on a first come, first serve basis to qualified adopters when it is a good match.  In order to expedite the adoption process you can bring a copy of your vet records for current pets and pets you have had in the recent past.  If you rent you can also bring a copy of your lease or something from you landlord outlining the pet policy*** See additional tips for visiting our Adoption Center below.

Unleashed by Petco in Ballston – Cats
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
3902 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22203)

Loyal Companion — Dogs
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
7505 Leesburg Pike Ste 120A
Falls Church, VA 22043

To see the list of animals attending our offsite event  that day please visit our event calendar and click on the link for the specific event to view the details.

Thank you to our Clear the Shelters Partner VCA University Veterinary Hospital.

If you are planning to visit our Adoption Center here are some tips to help your visit go smoothly:

-The Adoption Center is located at 11116 Fairfax Station Rd., Fairfax Station, VA 22039. Hours are 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

– Parking is very limited, please follow signs & instructions to overflow parking areas

-This is our busiest day of the year so please be patient. We will have lots of people coming through the building and will be working as quickly as possible to take care of all our prospective adopters.

-we will have a mixture or fee waived, reduced fee and full priced animals. As a private organization we rely on adoption fees to offset the costs of transporting, caring for and providing veterinary services for our animals. As much as we would love to we simply can’t afford to be able to waive fees on all of our pets. Adoption fees cover vaccines, microchips and spay/neuter.

-Dogs and cats will be adopted very quickly. Adoptions will be processed on a first come, first served basis for qualified adopters when the adoption is a good fit for the humans and the pets. We encourage you to meet all the dogs and cats in case there are several that are a good match for your family.

-To expedite the adoption process you can bring the following information with you:
1- Copies of the vet records for your current pets or pets you have had in the recent past
2- If you rent your home – a copy of your lease or information from your landlord stating the pet policies

-You will need a leash (not retractible) and secure collar or harness to take your new pup home. You can either bring supplies with you or purchase them from us. We also have discount adoption packages available that include everything you need to get started with your new dog including crates, bowls and food. For cats you should bring a carrier if you have one. We will have a limited number of cardboard cat carriers to give away.

-Adoption fees can be paid by credit or debit card only.

Here is quick run down of the adoption process:

1. Meet dogs and cats
2. Fill out an adoption questionnaire on your phone at www.homewardtrails.org for the dog(s) cats(s) that interest you
3. Speak to an Adoption Counselor
4. Vet reference check if you have current or past pets (or review of vet records)
5. Landlord check if you rent your home (or review of lease or other documentation of pet policies)
6. Purchase any necessary pet supplies

7. Sign adoption contract and pay adoption fee on your phone
8. Take home your new pet!

We hope to place so many dogs and cats into loving homes during Clear the Shelters! Could one of those homes be yours? See y’all Saturday at our Adoption Center!