The Fairfax County Animal Shelter (FCAS) is hosting a "Clear the Shelters" fee-waived pet adoption event this Friday and Saturday, August 25 and 26. For FCAS, this couldn’t come at a better time – the shelter is over capacity for small animals like rabbits and guinea pigs and nearing capacity for cats and dogs, and requests to surrender pets aren’t slowing down.

The NBC-sponsored "Clear the Shelters" initiative is an annual event and many animal shelters nationwide participate. With shelters typically becoming most crowded during the summer months, this event helps promote pet adoption when shelters need help the most, and FCAS is extremely full.

“With over 300 animals in the shelter’s care right now, we are really excited to help as many shelter pets as possible meet their new families this week," says shelter director Reasa Currier. "We have so many great pets just waiting for someone to walk through our doors and adopt. From the tiniest hamsters to large dogs, playful kittens to calm senior lap cats, if you’re looking for a pet we can help you find one."

The Fairfax County Animal Shelter is open Tuesday through Sunday: Tuesday and Wednesday from noon to 5 p.m., Thursday and Friday from noon to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed Mondays. .

For more information about the adoption process and to see which pets are available for adoption, visit the shelter website .