A waived adoption fee is the easiest part of bringing home a shelter pet, and this week in New York City it is free. The harder, more important work starts after you sign the paperwork. So while the headline is the deal, the useful version of this story is how to make a fee-free adoption a permanent one rather than a return three weeks later.
The deal, plainly
Through November 8, the pet food brand Royal Canin is covering every adoption fee at the Animal Care Centers of NYC for National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. Every adopter also leaves with a one-month supply of food and tailored nutrition information. The ACC is the largest shelter system in New York City, with full-service locations across Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island and more than 500 pets waiting on any given day. The waiver applies only to in-person adoptions, and adopters must be over 18.
There is one animal the center is especially eager to place. Adopt Jelly Bean, a sweet, affectionate cat who won over the ACC staff, during the appreciation week and Royal Canin will cover six months of her food, not just one.
“Their support not only helps ensure pets at ACC receive quality nutrition but also amplifies our shared goal of ending animal homelessness in New York City,” said ACC president and CEO Risa Weinstock in the announcement. Don MacIntosh, vice president of Royal Canin’s Professional Division, framed the partnership the same way: “It’s about working together to ensure every pet is provided with the tailored nutrition they deserve.”
Why a free week matters more than usual right now
The timing is not incidental. Shelter Animals Count, which aggregates intake and outcome data from thousands of U.S. organizations, found in its 2025 mid-year report that about 2.8 million cats and dogs entered shelters and rescues from January through June 2025. That is down roughly four percent from the same window in 2024, but adoptions slipped about one percent over the same period, and many shelters are still operating at or near capacity, squeezed further by staffing and veterinary shortages. Adoptions remained the single largest outcome nationally, accounting for 69 percent of where animals ended up, which is exactly why removing the cost barrier for a week can move real numbers.
The ACC’s own performance makes the case for using a system like this. It took in more than 15,000 animals in 2024 and placed 91 percent of them into homes, far above the rough 25 percent that many shelters manage. A waived fee at a high-placement shelter is a low-risk way in.
Make the free adoption stick
A removed fee can tempt a faster decision than a pet deserves. The animals that get returned are usually the ones adopted on impulse, so treat the savings as a reason to be more deliberate, not less.
“A fee waiver should change your budget, not your timeline,” says Dr. Mara Chen, a shelter-medicine veterinarian. “Spend the time you would have spent at the register doing a real meet-and-greet. Ask the staff how this specific animal behaves in the kennel versus the play yard, whether it has any medical notes, and how it does with kids or other pets. The dog or cat that fits your actual life is worth far more than the one that fits the moment.”
Two practical moves before you go. Bring everyone who lives with you, including resident pets where the shelter allows a supervised introduction, so the match is tested rather than assumed. And budget past the free month of food: the waiver covers the entry cost, but routine care, a wellness exam, and supplies are the ongoing commitment. If those are in place, a free adoption week is one of the best deals in pet ownership.
There are two days left to use the waived fees and food, and the ACC website lists the rest of the cats and dogs still looking for homes.
References
- “Royal Canin Waives Adoption Fees at Animal Care Centers (ACC) of NYC for National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week.” PR Newswire, prnewswire.com.
- “2025 Mid-Year Report.” Shelter Animals Count, shelteranimalscount.org.
- “Animal Care Centers of NYC: Adopt.” ACC of NYC, nycacc.org.
