Babe, a pet at the Chautauqua County Humane Society, is pictured.

The BISSELL Pet Foundation, in collaboration with animal shelters and rescues across New York including the Chautauqua County Humane Society, has launched a new intrastate transport program aimed at increasing adoption opportunities for long-stay shelter pets.

A recent report from Shelter Animals Count reveals that dogs of all sizes are staying in the care of shelters and rescues longer than they have in previous years. Nationwide, dog adoptions have declined by 1% from 2023 to 2024, with medium-sized dogs averaging 18 days in shelters and larger dogs averaging 20 days. Many New York shelters are caring for healthy, adoptable dogs who have been waiting for more than 30 days for a second chance at a loving home. To address this challenge, BISSELL Pet Foundation’s New York Intrastate Transport Program – Long-Stay Pet Initiative offers a collaborative platform for animal welfare organizations throughout the state to increase adoptions by coordinating the transfer of long-stay pets to locations where they may have a better chance of being adopted.

“At BISSELL Pet Foundation, we know transport saves lives because we have seen it firsthand. Too many shelter pets are overlooked simply because they are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Transport offers a second chance by introducing them to new adopters,” said Cathy Bissell, founder of the BISSELL Pet Foundation. “We spent three years developing a platform to make intrastate transport easier for shelters, helping them diversify their populations to increase adoptions. Every pet deserves a chance, and we’re proud to provide a solution that helps shelters save more lives. If you are thinking about adding a pet to your family, please visit your local shelter to adopt or foster.”

Participating shelters and rescues in New York will list their long-stay pets on BISSELL Pet Foundation’s platform. Once selected, these pets will be transported to new organizations increasing their chances of finding families. Community members are encouraged to visit their local shelters regularly, as new pets will continually be transferred in as part of the program.

“CCHS is excited to be involved with this pilot program that the Bissell Pet Foundation has created for shelters and rescues in New York state,” said Jane Babinsky, Chautauqua County Humane Society executive director. “We have several dogs and cats which are long term stays here and hope that they will benefit from this program.”