JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Humane Society and Animal Care and Protective Services are offering free pet adoptions Friday through Sunday due to shelters being full.
Community partners, such as Pet Paradise, are pitching in to help too.
Pet Paradise is boarding dogs from JHS to help make space and save animals' lives until next weekend's "Mega Adoption Event."
The Jacksonville Humane Society said even with this weekend's free adoptions and next weekend's Mega event, the situation will still be critical.
“This is the time of year when shelters get critically full, so we are asking our animal-loving community for their help. We’ve waived adoption fees through Sunday so there has never been a better time to adopt your new best friend,” said Denise Deisler, executive director of JHS. “Our goal is to save these animals' lives and find them loving homes.”
Anthony Gilliard spoke with News4Jax at the free adoption event Sunday. He was one of the hundreds of people at the event. He said he was there to adopt a cat after the stray cat he found recently in Oceanway died of a terminal disease. Gilliard said he found just the right companion at the event.
"You just go in it with an open mind and he found me, I guess," Gilliard said.
Shelters are bursting at the seams with adoptable cats and dogs of all ages looking for loving homes.
One of the reasons the shelter is so full is due to the fireworks over the last week. Amy Schindler with the Humane Society, said sadly many animals ended up running away.
"Sometimes, during Fourth of July vacation time, we have new animals to the area because of visiting people," Schindler said.
Adoptions are free, but a $20 licensing fee may apply.
The Jacksonville Humane Society Adoption Center at 8464 Beach Boulevard, will be open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Animal Care and Protective Services Adoption Center at 2020 Forest Street, will be open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
JHS said foster homes are also needed, especially for larger dogs. Every animal that is in a foster home frees up a kennel, helping local agencies to save lives.
People who want to foster an animal can email JHS or ACPS Foster Office.
For more information on how to help and to view adoptable pets, people can go to:
- www.jaxhumane.org
- www.coj.net/pets
- www.jaxadoptapet.org