10 News in Roanoke, Va., is supporting the nationwide Clear The Shelters campaign throughout August by featuring adoptable shelter pets daily to encourage finding them forever homes. This initiative comes during one of the busiest shelter months, partly due to kitten season, and aims to raise awareness and support for local shelters through adoptions, social media sharing, and donations.

According to Shelter Animals Count data for 2024, about 5.8 million companion animals entered U.S. shelters, with intakes declining by 1.4% from 2023 and 11% since 2019. While total adoptions slightly increased by 0.4% from 2023, dog adoptions have decreased by 1% this year and 13% since 2019, whereas cat adoptions grew by 2% over 2023 and surpassed 2019 levels. This highlights ongoing challenges in dog adoptions despite gains in cat adoptions, underscoring the importance of campaigns like Clear The Shelters.