• by Danielle Oster , Yesterday

DEK: NBCUniversal and Hill’s Pet Nutrition are getting some added help for the national “Clear The Shelters” campaign -- an annual event in which stations owned, or affiliated with, NBC or Telemundo partner with animal shelters and rescue organizations across the U.S. to promote pet adoption and raise donations for participating shelters.

Actor Josh Hutcherson (“The Beekeeper,” “The Hunger Games”) joins the effort this August, Hill’s eighth consecutive year as a national sponsor for the drive.

“Adopting my rescue dogs Manchi and Driver truly changed my life and ignited my passion for shelter pets," Hutcherson said in a statement, adding that he feeds Hill’s to his own dogs.

Hutcherson kicked off the campaign with a visit to Hill’s shelter partner Pasadena Humane, where he volunteered his time to amplify the stories of shelter pets including Lula, a dog rescued from the Los Angeles area wildfires, and a cat named Catnip. Both pets will go home with a three-month supply of Hill’ Science Diet food upon adoption.

This year’s initiative arrives amid a shelter-overcrowding crisis. According to the national Shelter Animals Count database, 5.8 million cats and dogs entered shelters across the country in 2024. While there’s actually a small decrease in intakes from the year prior, the pet shelter population still grew by 103,000 in 2024.

So there’s a real need to drive adoption. According to Hill's Pet Nutrition's 2025 State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report, nearly two-thirds of Americans would consider adopting a shelter pet, with over half aware of fostering programs for shelter pets. Hill’s is partnering with select shelters to provide adoption kits with Hill's Science Diet starter bags, coupons, and other pet supplies.

The campaign is also highlighting other ways to help for those who can’t adopt. To drive awareness of, and promote, fostering, Hill’s has a longtime partnership with “Kitten Lady” Hannah Shaw.

The campaign also highlights donations as another way to help. Hill's and Josh Hutcherson have committed to match donations of up to $25,000 for Clear The Shelters  made via Greater Good Charities through Sept. 15.

“Our latest Hill's State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report reveals that financial concerns–from the initial cost of adoption to ongoing care -- are significant barriers for potential pet owners. Tackling these challenges and the growing population of shelter pets requires a united front,"  Dr. Chelsie Estey, U.S. Chief Veterinary Officer for Hill's Pet Nutrition, said in a statement.

Hill’s is the longest-running sponsor for Clear The Shelters, which says it has helped find homes for nearly 1.2 million pets, and raised over $5 million for shelters nationwide since its 2015 inception.