Like many animal shelters across the nation, Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) is overwhelmed with dogs and cats. To help ease the shelter space crunch, RASKC is waiving adoption fees for dogs through the end of the year during our “Home for the Holidays” promotion.

“Our dog kennels have been consistently at or over capacity all year,” said RASKC assistant operations manager Tim Anderson. “I can’t recall that happening in the last twelve years. So, by waiving adoption fees, we hope we can find a place for all the dogs that have been waiting patiently with us for their fur-ever family.”

Depending on where an adopter lives, a pet license fee may still apply. A King County pet license comes with many benefits, including Vacation Pet Alert, Free Ride Home, and more.

For those who want to adopt a cat, all felines over six months old can also be adopted for just the cost of a pet license. Profiles of all the pets available for adoption are online at kingcounty.gov/AdoptAPet. Prospective pet adopters can also visit the Pet Adoption Center at 21615 64th Ave. S. in Kent. Adoption hours are noon to 5 p.m. weekdays and noon to 4 p.m. weekends. The shelter will be closed on Thursday and Friday this week for the Thanksgiving holiday.

For those who can’t make the full-time commitment to adopting a pet, short-term fostering is also an option.

“Fosters offer the opportunity for a pet to get out of the shelter, at least temporarily, and into a home where they can be themselves,” RASKC shelter manager Alex Ropes said. “Foster families help us learn more about an animal’s personality and give them visibility so they can get adopted faster.”

RASKC provides everything a foster home needs to care for a pet, including food, cat litter, and veterinary care. To learn more about becoming a foster, visit kingcounty.gov/RASKCVolunteer.