Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

First Time In 50 Years That Animal Shelter Is Empty After 600 Dogs Get “Miraculously” Adopted
First Time In 50 Years That Animal Shelter Is Empty After 600 Dogs Get “Miraculously” Adopted
1.1K

First Time In 50 Years That Animal Shelter Is Empty After 600 Dogs Get “Miraculously” Adopted

It’s a Christmas miracle! All dogs at an animal shelter have been adopted, leaving its staff rejoicing at the numerous empty cells.

Just two weeks ago, the Adams County, Pennsylvania, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in the USA barely had any kennels left for dogs needing a new home.

But in festive news, for the first time in nearly 50 years, the shelter doesn’t have any more dogs left as the four-legged residents are now busy spending the holidays with their new families.

In a post on Facebook published on Friday (December 22), Adams County SPCA said: “Today is a great day for the Adams County SPCA!”

RELATED:

    Just two weeks ago, a shelter was almost at capacity, but it is now completely empty

    Image credits: Adams County SPCA

    “Two weeks ago our kennels were almost filled, now we don’t have any dogs in the building at all (we have 1 cat that came in as a stray a little bit ago)!! 

    “Our community stepped up once again! This is the first time in 47 YEARS that the Adams County SPCA is empty let alone at Christmas time, it is a true miracle!”

    ADVERTISEMENT

    The Adams County SPCA shelter adopted out 598 animals, leaving the facility empty for the first time in nearly 50 years

    Image credits: Adams County SPCA

    “To say that we are beyond excited is an understatement! The staff and volunteers have worked VERY hard to take care of the animals in our care and to make sure they got adopted to the right home! 

    “This year we have adopted out 598 animals and reunited 125 strays with their owners! WOW! It has been a busy year! 

    “We thank everyone for their continued support and look forward to new adventures in 2024!”

    “To say that we are beyond excited is an understatement! The staff and volunteers have worked VERY hard to take care of the animals, the shelter said

    Image credits: Adams County SPCA

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    “We will be pulling animals from other shelters in PA next week in hopes of relieving some of their stress. Right now, we are going to enjoy this accomplishment! Merry Christmas!”

    Approximately 6.3 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) said.

    The facility will begin taking animals from other shelters “in hopes of relieving some of their stress”

    Image credits: Adams County SPCA

    Of those abandoned pets, approximately 3.1 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats. 

    “We estimate that the number of dogs and cats entering U.S. shelters annually has declined from approximately 7.2 million in 2011,” the ASPCA stated. “The biggest decline was in dogs (from 3.9 million to 3.1 million).”

    “So glad they all got homes for the holiday,” a reader commented

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    Share on Facebook

    Explore more of these tags

    Andréa Oldereide

    Andréa Oldereide

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

    Read less »
    Andréa Oldereide

    Andréa Oldereide

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

    Karina Babenok

    Karina Babenok

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    As a visual editor in the News team, I look for the most interesting pictures and comments to make each post interesting and informative through images, so that you aren't reading only blocks of text. I joined Bored Panda not that long ago, but in this short amount of time I have covered a wide range of topics: from true crime to Taylor Swift memes (my search history is very questionable because of that).In my freetime, I enjoy spending time at the gym, gaming, binging Great British Bake Off and adding yet another tattoo artist that I would love to get a tattoo from to my pinterest board.

    Read less »

    Karina Babenok

    Karina Babenok

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    As a visual editor in the News team, I look for the most interesting pictures and comments to make each post interesting and informative through images, so that you aren't reading only blocks of text. I joined Bored Panda not that long ago, but in this short amount of time I have covered a wide range of topics: from true crime to Taylor Swift memes (my search history is very questionable because of that).In my freetime, I enjoy spending time at the gym, gaming, binging Great British Bake Off and adding yet another tattoo artist that I would love to get a tattoo from to my pinterest board.

    What do you think ?
    User avatar
    Add photo comments
    POST
    WindySwede
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I hope they will be well treated and have a foreverhome now, and not just returned after Christmas..

    Libstak
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That shelter will be full again with pets gifted for Christmas, then abandoned when the reality of caring for them becomes too much with all those with stars in their eyes before the holidays. Sorry to have to say that but it happens every year.

    Load More Comments
    WindySwede
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I hope they will be well treated and have a foreverhome now, and not just returned after Christmas..

    Libstak
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That shelter will be full again with pets gifted for Christmas, then abandoned when the reality of caring for them becomes too much with all those with stars in their eyes before the holidays. Sorry to have to say that but it happens every year.

    Load More Comments
    You May Like
    Related on Bored Panda
    Popular on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda
    ADVERTISEMENT