Maricopa County Animal Care & Control is participating in a weeklong event with adoption fees of $50 or less at shelters in Phoenix and Mesa.

The fall Empty the Shelters program will run from Saturday, Oct. 1, to Saturday, Oct. 8, at the west shelter, 2500 S. 27^th Ave., Phoenix, and the east shelter, 2630 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Mesa.

The county agency is one of more than 280 participating shelters across the country joining the effort to take pets from kennels to the couches of homes, according to a release.

“It has been a long, challenging summer at MCACC,” county officials said in the release.

“In September, there were 14 days where we cared for over 800 animals with space for only 755, and we’re hoping to find even more adoptable pets their forever homes during this special event where all our adoption fees are waived.”

BISSELL Pet Foundation is sponsoring the event, an effort that has helped 117,615 pets find homes.

The program is the nation’s largest funded adoption event and will be taking place in more than 280 shelters in 42 states, including MCACC.