JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Just over 800 pets found new homes as part of a Home for the Holidays mega adoption event over the weekend.
There were plenty of dogs and cats to choose from because this was the largest adoption event in the country.
The hope is to lower euthanasia rates at community animal shelters, as well as bring attention to the need to adopt a pet rather than shop.
"Still in Duval County, we still having to euthanize perfectly adoptable animals," said Dianne Wiles, of First Coast No More Homeless Pets. "So the more people that adopt and don't shop, the more animals like this will have a second chance."
First Coast No More Homeless Pets, Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services, the Jacksonville Humane Society and many others teamed up to make this mega adoption event possible. Last July, they held a similar event in which 946 animals were placed into homes. The goal wass to beat that number and find families for more than 1,000 pets.
"We will have over 1,200 animals available for adoption, so we think we can beat it," Wiles said. "As long as the community comes out and saves a life, we can clear out the shelters."
Adoption fees start as low as $20 and will vary by group. All pets were spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped.
Audrea Grant recently adopted two kittens for her children from Animal Care and Protective Services, which still has to euthanize animals when it is over capacity.
"It makes me very happy. Two won't be put down, and they'll have another brother and sister to come home to," Grant said.