Pendleton Animal Shelter Offers Discounted Dog Adoptions

Local realtors pledge $5,000 to cover adoption fees for 50 shelter dogs

Mar. 25, 2026 at 5:00am

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The Pendleton Animal Welfare Shelter (PAWS) has received a $5,000 pledge from local realtors Matt Vogler and Shasta Fisher to cover adoption fees for 50 dogs. The father-daughter duo hopes this will inspire more people to adopt shelter dogs and help alleviate overcrowding at the shelter.

Why it matters

Shelters nationwide are facing overcrowding issues, with larger dogs often staying for long periods. This pledge aims to make adoptions more accessible and encourage more people to open their homes to shelter animals in need.

The details

Typically, PAWS charges $160 for large dogs and $200 for small dogs to cover the cost of spaying/neutering, microchipping, and medical care. Vogler and Fisher's pledge will cut the adoption fee by $100 for 50 dogs. The pair hopes this will 'inspire more people to just take the leap' and adopt a shelter pet.

  • The $5,000 pledge was made on March 17, 2026.
  • The discounted adoptions will be offered over the next three years.

The players

Matt Vogler

A local realtor who, along with his daughter, pledged $5,000 to the Pendleton Animal Welfare Shelter to cover adoption fees for 50 dogs.

Shasta Fisher

A local realtor and the daughter of Matt Vogler, who partnered with her father to make the $5,000 pledge to the Pendleton Animal Welfare Shelter.

Pendleton Animal Welfare Shelter (PAWS)

The animal shelter in Pendleton, Oregon that will be offering the discounted dog adoptions thanks to the pledge from Matt Vogler and Shasta Fisher.

Shaindel Beers

The vice president of the PAWS board of directors, who expressed gratitude for the pledge and noted that it will help the shelter find homes for more dogs.

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What they’re saying

“I just think about using our business and profits to help bridge the gap from the kennel and cage to get the dogs home to a couch. Dogs can change families and lives, so if we can be a part of the adoption fee to help people bypass that part, we are so happy to do that.”

— Shasta Fisher, Local realtor

“Shelters are so overcrowded. Anything we can do to inspire people to adopt is the best thing to do. It's hard because you want to be a no-kill shelter, but then that means you might have a dog for a year or longer.”

— Shaindel Beers, Vice president of the PAWS board of directors

“I think when (the adoption fee is) lowered, that inspires more people to just take the leap and decide that they're ready to adopt.”

— Shaindel Beers, Vice president of the PAWS board of directors

“Dogs are like babies. They're helpless, unless somebody helps them.”

— Matt Vogler, Local realtor

What’s next

The discounted adoptions will be offered over the next three years, with flexibility in how the $5,000 pledge is dispersed based on the pace of adoptions.

The takeaway

This pledge from local realtors highlights the ongoing challenges faced by animal shelters and the importance of community support to help dogs in need find loving homes. It serves as an example of how businesses and individuals can make a meaningful impact on pet adoption rates and alleviate overcrowding in shelters.