The Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter is teaming up with Best Friends Animal Society and more than 270 other partner rescue groups across the country to offer fee-waived adoptions in hopes of finding homes for 10,000 pets in 10 days, according to a BFAS press release sent Monday.

The adoption fees were covered by animal lovers who wanted to help send homeless dogs and cats to new homes over the summer holiday, the release said.

The Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter's Inner Loop location will be open for cat adoptions Monday to Friday from noon-6 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The WCRAS Canine Corral, 425 E. Morrow St., Georgetown, will be open for dog adoptions Monday to Friday from noon-6 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The WCRAS Canine Corral will also stay open one hour later on July 4, to allow for as many dogs as possible to find new homes, the release said.

“If you get excited when a stranger pays for your coffee, imagine the joy you’ll feel when adopting a pet whose adoption fee has been covered,” BFAS Chief Executive Officer Julie Castle said in the release.

Getting adoptable pets into homes is crucial this time of year, as shelters across the country fill with dogs and cats in August, according to BFAS. Many of those intakes happen around the July 4 holiday, when fireworks and other loud sounds cause pets to flee from their homes and end up in municipal animal shelters, the release said.

"We are so grateful to be a part of this event," says Cheryl Schneider, Williamson County Animal Services Director. "We hope this generosity will lead to shelter animals finding their forever families."

Schneider also encouraged pet parents to update their information on tags and microchips.

“This time of year is a reminder to update the owner’s information on your pet’s tags and to make sure your pet’s microchip is also registered and updated," she said. "These simple steps are lifesaving.”

To see adoptable pets at Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter, visit wilcopets.org. Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter pets are fixed, vaccinated, microchipped and registered.

This adoption promotion is part of Best Friends Animal Society's Save Them All campaign to save the lives of dogs and cats in America’s shelters. Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter is a Best Friends Network Partner. For more information, visit www.save-them-all.org.