Animal shelters across Merced and Stanislaus counties are participating in the national Clear the Shelters campaign this August, offering reduced adoption fees and hosting community events to help pets find permanent homes.

The Newman Animal Shelter is offering $20 adoptions throughout the month and has been sharing adoption success stories on social media. Shelter staff say the campaign has helped raise awareness and increase foot traffic, leading to more animals being placed with families.

The Merced County Sheriff’s Office Animal Services Bureau will host a Clear the Shelters event on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2150 Shuttle Drive in Atwater. The event will feature adoptable pets, shelter tours, rescue partner meet-and-greets, and a variety of local vendors.

Organizers say the goal is to connect the public with the shelter’s work and encourage community involvement in animal rescue efforts.

“We can’t help all of the animals without the support of our amazing community,” the bureau said in a statement. “Help us help them—and let’s clear the kennels together.”

Clear the Shelters is a nationwide pet adoption and donation campaign led by NBCUniversal Local. Since its launch in 2015, the initiative has helped more than 1.2 million pets get adopted and raised over $5 million for shelters across the United States.

More information about participating shelters and virtual adoption options is available at ClearTheShelters.com.