CASSOPOLIS — Monday afternoon, a brown and black striped cat meowed in the arms of Cass County Animal Control Director Ron Butts as he posed for a photo to promote an upcoming adoption day event at the shelter.

The cat, Leia, named after “Star Wars”’ intergalactic warrior princess, has had a tough life so far, according to Butts, who said she came to the shelter as a stray with an uncomfortable eye infection. However, she is now recovering and is ready to find herself a new home. This weekend, she might have her chance.

Cass County Animal Control is partnering with Grand Rapids-based charity BISSELL Pet Foundation to host an Empty the Shelters event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. During the event, interested adopters can take home a new furry friend for $25. All pets adopted out Saturday will be spayed/neutered and microchipped.

“This is a great program,” Butts said. “There are a vast number of unwanted pets across the United States, and this is one means of encouraging adoptions from your local shelters.”

Empty the Shelters was started by BISSELL in 2017, working with more than 112 shelters across 20 states. In the 10 Empty the Shelters events that have been hosted since 2017, the program has led to the adoptions of nearly 20,000 pets, according to the organization.

Saturday will mark the fifth time that Cass County Animal Control has worked with BISSELL to host an Empty the Shelters event. At each event, which are hosted twice a year, Butts said that the shelter sees upwards of 100 visitors looking to adopt a new family cat or dog.

Having overseen all of the Empty the Shelter events in Cass County, Butts said he had seen the way that the event could benefit families and individuals by allowing them to take home a new friend at a low cost. One particular story he called to mind took place at the last Empty the Shelters event in October 2018. A personal friend of Butts’ came to the shelter looking for a new furry pal to keep him company after the death of his wife and child. During the adoption event, Butts’ friend met and quickly bonded with a Chihuahua that he ended up taking home with him.

“That’s why I do this — those types of meaningful bonds,” Butts said.

While stories like that warm Butts’ heart, Empty the Shelters has helped to save the lives of animals at Cass County Animal Control in more ways than just adoptions that happen on the day of the event. Butts said that by working with BISSELL, the Cass County shelter had created connections with shelters across the state. This allows the shelters to transfer longer-stay animals between them to give those animals more exposure and a better chance at adoption.

As of Monday, the farthest Cass County has transferred an animal was to Escanaba, located more than 400 miles away from Cassopolis in Michigan’s upper peninsula.

“[Empty the Shelters] has opened up many new avenues for us in terms of animal placements,” Butts said. “Transfers especially give additional resources to pets and placement opportunities that we might not be able to give them here.”

Through both adoptions and transfers, Butts estimated that Empty the Shelters has saved the lives of more than 500 animals in Cass County.

Butts said he would encourage community members to visit the shelter Saturday to support the Empty the Shelters program and to see adoptable animals such as Leia.

“If you are even thinking about bringing a new pet into your home, come check out [the event] here or at any of the other participating shelters,” he said. “Give adoption a chance; make it your first choice.”