For years, K-9 Angels Rescue worked tirelessly to pull at-risk animals from local shelters and place them in loving homes. But even with their dedication—and the efforts of countless rescue groups—far too many dogs and cats continued to enter the system. It became clear that rescue alone couldn’t solve the crisis. The only way to make a lasting impact was to reduce the number of pets entering the shelters in the first place through the most effective tool available: spay and neuter.
In 2017, K-9 Angels started The Empty Shelter Project to provide spay/neuter surgeries and remove the financial barrier by providing high-quality, high-volume services free of charge to underserved neighborhoods in Greater Houston.
We cannot do this alone, and are fortunate to have the support of elected officials, generous donors, passionate volunteers, and owners who are committed to helping their pets and community by obtaining our services.
The Empty Shelter Project hosts five mega events annually, where 500+ pets are spayed/neutered in a single day. We also host several smaller weekend events throughout the year and provide limited free services through a partnership with a local high-volume spay/neuter clinic.
As of November 2025, we have provided more than 25,000 free spay/neuter, vaccinations, and microchips to local pets.
WANT TO SEE US NEAR YOU?
Contact your local city or county representative to express your support for free spay/neuter services in your area and ask them to reach out to us via info@theemptyshelterproject.org.
To host an event, we need access to a free facility with at least 6,000 square feet, ideally with parking for 400 cars.