Greenhill launches summer campaign to help Lane County large dogs find homes
Greenhill’s summer push targets the dogs that wait longest: large and extra-large pets. About 55% of its recent intakes fit that size.
Greenhill Humane Society launched a summer campaign in Lane County aimed at moving large dogs out of the shelter faster, where bigger pets have been lingering longer than their smaller counterparts. The program, called More to Love: A Large Dog Success Initiative, runs through Aug. 31 and is backed by Hill’s Science Diet.
Greenhill says the effort is designed to chip away at the real and perceived barriers that keep large dogs from getting adopted. Selected dogs will leave with tailored adoption packages that can include a custom-fitted harness and leash set, chew toys, slow feeders, snuffle mats, puzzle toys, Hill’s Science Diet training treats, training support materials and adoption starter kits. Large-breed dogs of all ages will be available during the campaign.
The shelter says the local problem mirrors a national one. Hill’s 2026 Shelter Pet Adoption Report found that large dogs made up 26% of dog intakes at U.S. shelters and spent the longest median time in care. Hill’s says large dogs spend 70% more time in shelters than small dogs, with cost, physical handling and living space among the most common reasons people hesitate to adopt them.
Greenhill says those same pressures show up in Eugene and Springfield, where about 55% of its recent dog intakes have been large or extra-large, weighing 44 pounds or more. The shelter says those animals often stay in care longer than smaller dogs, even when they are healthy and ready for homes. That matters in Lane County because Greenhill has been caring for animals here since 1944 and operates the only life-saving animal shelter in the Eugene-Springfield area.
The shelter’s role reaches well beyond adoptions. The City of Eugene, Lane County and the City of Springfield contract with Greenhill Humane Society SPCA to operate the public animal shelter, which means every long-stay dog adds pressure to a system that also handles stray, abandoned and neglected animals, reunites owners with pets and provides medical care before placement. Greenhill says it cared for more than 5,750 animals across 17 species in 2025.
The larger shelter picture remains strained nationwide. Shelter Animals Count estimates that 2.8 million dogs entered U.S. shelters in 2025, part of an estimated 5.8 million cats and dogs across shelters and rescues, and says intake levels stayed high enough to keep many organizations at or near capacity. In Lane County, Greenhill’s summer campaign is meant to turn that pressure into a practical adoption opportunity for households ready for a bigger dog and the extra support that comes with one.
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