#ClearTheShelters

Over the past three years, the island of Puerto Rico has faced mounting disasters – the devastating Hurricane Maria in 2017, several large earthquakes and aftershocks in 2020, and, most recently, the coronavirus pandemic. The disasters have left non-profit animal rescue groups like Animal Lighthouse Rescue with a big problem on their hands as the population of stray dogs, called…

Watch Clear The Shelters’ live show for stories of those who’ve stepped up in the pandemic to help foster, adopt and care for animals in need.

I was never supposed to have a pet. My fiancé, Alex, and I are both huge dog lovers, but our New York City landlord wouldn’t allow it, and we love our apartment. This led to many years of fostering rescue pups whom we attempted to keep secret from him, with varying degrees of success.

If you previously shied away from getting a dog due to working outside the home, you may now find yourself in an ideal situation. But remember that adopting a pet is a commitment to care for that pet for their entire life. If you’re willing and able to take on that kind of responsibility, here are some things you should...

The lockdown has helped pet owners form stronger emotional bonds with their pooches, become more attuned to their cats, and grow more attached to their puppies, who are after all such good boys.

Lottie is a cat who didn’t want anything to do with her foster dad at first. But he was determined to win her love. Eventually Lottie warmed up to him — and he made her his daughter.

A tiny, mangey puppy was found in a box. His foster mom and her pack of dogs helped him grow up into the most handsome and happy boy. That’s when she realized he’d been home all along.

An 11-year-old dog had spent his whole life on a chain, eating the family’s leftovers. This woman saw him and started visiting him three times a day. He was always so excited to see her — and six months in, his family agreed she could take him. Now he’s found a forever family!

Wondering the best way to make sure your dog is potty trained? Well, it takes a lot of work. Here are some steps you can take to make potty training with your pup go smoother.

At 14 years old, Meena Kumar is already a strong believer in the importance of second chances.

The mental health benefits can’t be denied when something as simple as petting your dog releases a chemical in your brain that makes you feel safe.

Bringing home a new family member is not as easy as falling in love and buying a crate. Take these tips into account from pet experts before and after bringing your new pet home.

Animal shelters across the country are once again teaming up with NBC and Telemundo stations to find loving homes for pets in need with the Clear The Shelters pet adoption campaign.

If you are thinking of adopting a dog or a cat but are worried about COVID, you might like to know that veterinarians and others believe there is little chance of your contracting COVID-19 from your pet. “Based on the limited information available to date, the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is considered to be low,” the CDC...

Many dog trainers are finding that holding classes and private sessions online via videoconference is more than a stopgap: There are advantages for them, for their clients and for dogs.

Social distancing rules can make exercising a challenge for a blind runner who needs a volunteer tethered as a guide.

What’s better than a really loving pet? Two pets who can’t get enough of each other. Meet six pairs of inseparable animals from around the country.

When the coronavirus pandemic took hold in the U.S. earlier this year, Sydnee Geril stopped bringing her service dog, Tulsa, to her chemotherapy treatments. The 25-year-old made the decision out of an abundance of caution; while the chance of spreading COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, through pet fur is unlikely, the American Veterinary Medical Association still recommends...

An 8-year-old Labrador retriever named Eros has become an essential worker in Medellin, Colombia, amid the pandemic