Labs & More: No Fee/Low Fee All Love Adoption Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
This grant had a transformative impact on Labs and More and the dogs we serve by removing one of the biggest barriers to adoption: the upfront cost for families ready to open their homes. Through the No Fee/Low Fee All Love Adoption Grant, we were able to make adoption more accessible while increasing our lifesaving capacity at a time when Southern California shelters continue to face a critical overcrowding crisis.
During the grant period, 404 dogs found loving homes through Labs and More, representing a 37% increase in adoptions compared to the period before the grant. Every one of those adoptions gave a deserving dog the opportunity for a new life while also creating space for another at-risk dog to enter our rescue program. This ripple effect allowed us to save even more dogs from overcrowded municipal shelters where many were facing euthanasia simply because there was no room left.
Beyond increasing adoptions, the grant helped shorten the time dogs spent waiting for permanent families, reducing stress on the animals while freeing valuable foster homes and rescue resources. Families who may have postponed adoption due to financial concerns were instead able to welcome a new companion into their lives, proving that eliminating adoption fees can make a meaningful difference without diminishing the commitment of adopters.
This grant perfectly aligned with its goal of increasing adoptions by removing financial barriers. It not only helped 704 dogs begin new lives with loving families but also strengthened our ability to rescue more dogs in urgent need. The impact extended far beyond the individual adoptions; it expanded our capacity to save lives, eased pressure on overcrowded shelters, and gave hundreds of dogs the second chance they deserved.
How many pets did this grant help?
704
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
One of the most rewarding outcomes of the No Fee/Low Fee All Love Adoption Grant was seeing families who had been hoping to adopt finally able to welcome a rescue dog into their home because the reduced adoption fee made it financially possible.
Copley (first photo) is one of those success stories. With his adorable black-and-white coat and cheerful personality, Copley quickly won over a family that had been considering adoption but was carefully balancing their budget.
Like many responsible adopters, they knew bringing home a dog meant much more than the adoption fee – it meant committing to years of quality food, veterinary care, training, and everyday expenses.
The reduced adoption fee provided through this grant removed that final financial hurdle, allowing them to move forward with confidence. Today, Copley is thriving in a home where he is loved, spoiled, and enjoying the life every rescue dog deserves.
Santiago (second photo) came to Labs and More after suffering a significant leg injury. While his recovery required time, patience, and dedicated care, his resilient spirit never faded.
His adopters fell in love with his gentle personality but were also planning for the ongoing costs of caring for a dog recovering from an injury. The lower adoption fee helped make that commitment possible, allowing them to dedicate more of their resources toward Santiago’s continued care and rehabilitation. He is now living an active, happy life with a family that saw his potential instead of his past.
Teddy (third photo) had an especially challenging journey after requiring surgery that resulted in the removal of one of his eyes. Despite everything he had been through, Teddy never lost his affectionate nature or zest for life.
His adoptive family immediately connected with him, but as with many families, finances played a role in their decision. The reduced adoption fee gave them the flexibility to say “yes,” knowing they could focus their resources on Teddy’s future health and well-being. Today, Teddy has fully embraced his second chance and is surrounded by the love and security every dog deserves.
These three dogs represent hundreds of similar success stories made possible through this grant. By reducing adoption fees, the No Fee/Low Fee All Love Adoption Grant removed financial barriers that can prevent wonderful families from adopting.
For 704 dogs, the grant meant more than a lower adoption cost; it meant a permanent home, a fresh start, and a brighter future. At the same time, every adoption opened space for another at-risk dog to be rescued from an overcrowded shelter, creating a lifesaving ripple effect throughout Southern California.
