Fairfax County's 'Operation Empty Cage' Starts Tuesday

Fairfax County is waiving the spay or neuter fee until Dec. 31 for the first 100 dogs and cats adopted as part of its “Operation Empty Cage” launching Tuesday at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter. The effort is part of the county's special two-month long "Home 4 the Holidays" adoption. One of the campaign’s goals is to empty the shelter’s cages by finding a home for each animal available for adoption throughout the holiday season.

The county decided to start "Home 4 the Holidays" two weeks earlier than in years past as a launch to National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, which is this week, Nov. 6 - 12. A Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ proclamation recognizes the initiative and the shelter which has provided programs and services for citizens that have positively impacted the lives of more than 20,400 animals in five years.

“Each year, homeless animals in Fairfax County spend the holidays in an animal shelter cage versus in a loving home,” says Dr. Karen P. Diviney, Fairfax County Animal Shelter director. “'Operation Empty Cage' aims to change that by giving these animals the gift of a new family and by enriching families through the unconditional love that a pet can provide.”

Anyone interested in seeing animals available for adoption at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter can visit the shelter during its business hours Tuesdays through Fridays 12–7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Animal adoptions occur up to one half hour prior to the shelter’s close each day.

For more information, call the Fairfax County Animal Shelter at 703-830-1100.