East County News Service
April 30, 2026 (San Diego) — On a day meant to celebrate the bond between humans and animals, the San Diego Humane Society is issuing an urgent plea to the community to adopt.
April 30 marks National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, and the timing couldn’t be more critical: local shelters are bursting at the seams, operating at staggering capacity levels across the county.
Working toward stopping the crisis, the SDHS announced it is joining the Bissell Pet Foundation’s national “Empty the Shelters” initiative. From May 1 through May 17 adoption fees for adult dogs and cats (ages seven months and older) will be reduced to $50.
Shelter numbers tell a sobering story.
The SDHS is currently caring for 1,585 animals, including 668 dogs and 777 cats — a 20 percent increase in animal population compared to this time last year. The SDHS says there has been a decisive slowdown in adoptions, with pets staying in the shelter 30 percent longer than they were in 2025.
The SDHS’s El Cajon Campus is at 152 percent capacity, the Oceanside Campus is at 155 percent capacity, the San Diego Campus is at 150 percent capacity and the Escondido Campus is at 129 percent capacity.
The reality of the crisis is best seen in the eyes of long-term residents like Mullet. A fixture at the San Diego Campus, Mullet (below right) has been waiting for a “forever family” for 505 days.
Because she has become a favorite among the staff, a dedicated volunteer has already sponsored her adoption fee, meaning her future family can take her home for free.
Mullet’s long residency is a symptom of the broader trend the shelter is desperate to reverse.
In response to the overcrowding, the SDHS is making it easier than ever for the public to find a new best friend. The organization recently extended its adoption hours to accommodate working families.
All campuses — El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside and San Diego — are open for walk-in adoptions from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.
Every animal adopted from the San Diego Humane Society comes microchipped for permanent identification, spayed or neutered, fully vaccinated and backed by an adoption guarantee and lifelong training support.
For nearly 150 years, the SDHS has served as a safety net for the region’s animals. View all available pets online at sdhumane.org/adopt or visit any of the four main campuses.C