Every year, animal welfare organizations across the country, including Pasadena Humane, participate in Clear the Shelters. The monthlong campaign led by NBCUniversal shines an important light on the millions of animals waiting for homes in shelters nationwide.
At its heart, Clear the Shelters is about creating new beginnings.
For organizations like ours, Clear the Shelters can help connect more animals with potential adopters, free up much-needed space and resources, and bring attention to the important work we do every day. For adopters, it can be the start of a meaningful relationship that changes not only an animal’s life, but their own as well.
At Pasadena Humane, we see those connections take shape every day.
When Venus, an 8-week-old stray, arrived at Pasadena Humane, he was in bad shape. The little gray kitten had an open wound on his back right leg, and X-rays showed his left hind leg was badly broken.
We had no way of knowing what had caused the injury or how long he had been living with it, but we knew he was now in a place where he could receive the care he needed. Venus was treated in our ICU, but the fracture was too severe to repair, and his leg eventually had to be amputated.
As Venus recovered, it quickly became clear that having three legs was not going to slow him down. His bouncy, playful personality began to emerge, and Venus proved to be just like any other kitten — curious, energetic, and always ready to explore. He simply did it all on three legs.
Then came the next and perhaps most important step in his journey: finding a home.
At a Free Adoption Day event much like Clear the Shelters, Venus’s adopter, Nicole Cazarez, says that adopting him represented an opportunity for positive change in her own life. His name also reminded her of her favorite band, which felt “like a sign.”
Today, Venus is thriving in his new home. According to Nicole, his three legs have done nothing to diminish his enthusiasm for life. “…It doesn’t slow him down. If anything, it makes him faster,” she said. “I look away for one second and he’s halfway across the house.”
He loves to play, jump, and receive as much attention as possible. When Nicole comes home from work, Venus darts out to find her and meows until she picks him up.
For anyone considering adopting an animal with special needs, Nicole offers a simple piece of advice: patience. The transition can take time, especially for an animal who has experienced injury, uncertainty, or major changes. But with time and care, trust grows — and so does the relationship.
Venus’ story reminds us what adoption can make possible. It gave a vulnerable kitten the second chance he needed, but it also created a new beginning for the person who welcomed him home.
That is the impact of campaigns like Clear the Shelters. Every adoption creates space for another animal in need, strengthens the shelter’s ability to continue its work, and, most importantly, gives a pet the chance to become part of a family.
Across the country and here at Pasadena Humane, countless animals are still waiting for that opportunity. We hope more animals and their people find their new beginnings.
Pasadena Humane will hold a Clear the Shelters adoption event on Saturday, August 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., where adoption fees will be waived for all available animals. To view available pets, please visit pasadenahumane.org/adopt
Chris Ramon is president and CEO of Pasadena Humane. pasadenahumane.org