Pet Shelter Raises Money To Stay Open

First Coast No More Homeless Pets Works To Save Hundreds Of Pets' Lives

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – First Coast No More Homeless Pets spays and neuters about 100 pets a day to reduce overpopulation and ultimately reduce the number of pets that are euthanized.

Now, it's about to do even more of the procedures to prevent the number of pets that are killed each year.

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"Our mission is to become a no-kill city. We want to end the killing of dogs and cats," said Dianne Wiles, of First Coast No More Homeless Pets.

When the city cut the Mandarin Adoption Center animal shelter from the budget, First Coast No More Homeless Pets sprang into action.

"With all of our efforts at our clinic, where we do high-volume spay and neuter to save lives, this would have been a bit of a step backwards and, we think, a raise in the euthanasia rate," Wiles said.

The shelter costs about $200,000 annually to run and it wasn't in the budget. It needed to raise at least $50,000 to secure a matching donation from a board member. With the help of the community, it raised $68,000, just in time to sign the lease on the Mandarin Adoption Center this week.

Pets that don't get adopted are often euthanized.

"Bosifus, I adopted him from a family that's a friend of ours that was going through hard times," said Lance Demers.

Saving the pet adoption center will save hundreds of lives.

"What they are doing here is saving a lot of animals," Demers said. "There are thousands, millions out there running around stray, and you know, I feel happy that people actually get involved."

"I personally am an animal lover," said Sandra Rose Honey. "I donate food when I can. I help the shelters when I can, and I think everybody else should do the same thing."

They shelter raised enough money to maintain the shelter for about half the year, so it needs $82,000 more for the full year. If would like to donate, take your donations to 6817 Norwood Avenue on the Northside or make your donations on First Coast No More Homeless Pets' website.