Clear the Shelters Campaign Results in 2,800 Pet Adoptions in DC Area

NBC4 and Telemundo 44 reported that 2,800 pets were adopted from animal shelters in the Washington, D.C. area during the 2026 Clear the Shelters campaign, which was presented by Hill’s Pet Nutrition.

The Clear the Shelters initiative is an annual event each August, where NBC and Telemundo stations collaborate with animal shelters and rescue organizations to promote pet adoption and generate funding for shelters.

In 2026, over 100 stations worked with more than 1,200 shelters across 47 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam. This effort facilitated the adoption of over 135,000 pets and raised nearly $500,000 for participating shelters.

Since its inception in 2015, Clear the Shelters has contributed to nearly 1.5 million pet adoptions and has generated more than $6 million in funding for shelters nationwide.

This year’s campaign incorporated a collaboration with longtime partner Hill's Pet Nutrition, which served as the first-time presenting sponsor, along with campaign partners Greater Good Charities, WeRescue, and The Black Dog.

The inspiration for Clear the Shelters originated from a pet adoption event held in North Texas in 2014 by NBC 5 and Telemundo 39.