MANATEE COUNTY, FL (September 15, 2022) - Manatee County Animal Welfare is partnering with Best Friends Animal Society on a pet adoption campaign this weekend, encouraging people to choose to adopt, not buy, their next pet.
The adoption event runs from Friday, September 16, through Sunday, September 18, at all Manatee County Animal Welfare (MCAW) locations. The Palmetto Adoption Center (located at 305 25th Street West in Palmetto) and Bishop Animal Shelter (at 5718 21st Ave. W in Bradenton) are open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. on Sunday. The Cat Town Adoption Center (located at 216 6th Ave. E in Bradenton) will be open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday but will be closed on Sunday.
Adoption fees for all pets are waived. Adopters will receive a complimentary gift bag for their new pet (while supplies last), plus an entry to win a special prize basket, courtesy of the Friends of Manatee County Animal Welfare. Adoptions include spay/neuter, microchip and rabies certificate (a value of over $300). Manatee County residents are required to license their new pet for an additional $20.
“This National Adoption Weekend is an opportunity to bring home a forever friend,” said Manatee County Animal Welfare Division Chief Sarah Brown.
Recent data released by Best Friends showed that U.S. shelters were seeing an increase in animal intakes and a decrease in pet adoptions from shelters. This has steadily turned into a crisis in the animal welfare community, where many shelters are over capacity.
"There is a growing shelter crisis across the country, and the animal welfare community won’t just sit by and let innocent pets die,” said Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society. "In fact, it’s quite the opposite. We are joining forces with our vast network of shelters and rescues across the country to host our third National Adoption Weekend since May to incentivize people to get out and adopt.
”That’s why Manatee County Animal Welfare is partnering with this effort, said Chief Brown.
“Currently, our shelters are caring for over 330 pets, plus 175 pets in temporary foster homes. While we are hoping for many adoptions this weekend, we realize not everybody is ready to commit to adoption, so they can foster and still make a big difference in helping our pets. The foster process is quick and easy, and we provide all the supplies that are needed.”
About Manatee County Animal Welfare
MCAW is Manatee County’s only open-admission shelter facility, taking in an average of 9 animals per day in 2021. MCAW continues to operate the Pet Pantry Program offering free food and supplies to pet owners facing financial and housing hardships. For the 2020-21 fiscal year, MCAW had a 94% save rate.
About the Best Friends Network
The Best Friends Network is comprised of thousands of public and private shelters, rescue groups, spay/neuter organizations and other animal welfare organizations in all 50 states. They are a coalition committed to saving the lives of homeless cats and dogs through collaboration, information-sharing and implementation of proven lifesaving strategies. Their partners support each other and inspire their own communities to increase lifesaving of dogs and cats across the country.