SAN DIEGO (CNS) - More than 900 animals were given new homes in San Diego County Saturday as animal shelters in the area participated in the nationwide Clear the Shelters event.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. an estimated 300 animals combined were adopted in city shelters, The San Diego Humane Society said.
According to Chief Financial Officer Kelly Riseley, crowds of people visited shelters, which did not stop until 5 p.m. as potential pet owners were attracted by little to no adoption fees.
"It never ebbed and flowed," Riseley said. "It was an hour wait throughout the day."
The crowds forced the city shelters to triple the average staff and according to her, turned into an assembly-line adoption process.
The streamlined process was able to put more than half of the animals available for adoption (581 total) with human companions. The 300 plus animals adopted is six times the weekend average, Riseley said.
More than 43,000 homeless animals enter county shelters each year.
Riseley said that all these adoptions will allow for more space and more animals to receive care.
"We made a big dent in getting more animals care," she said. "It makes a huge impact."
According to reports, about 16,800 animals were adopted Saturday nationwide.