At Manatee County Animal Services, Every Pet Deserves a “Home for the Holidays”:
Fee-Waived Adoptions, Holiday Fostering & “Stuff Our Stockings” Donation Drive This Holiday Season
Holiday cheer and hope are in the air at Manatee County Animal Services (MCAS)! Because every pet deserves a "Home for the Holidays," MCAS is presenting several options to help our shelter animals this holiday season.
MCAS encourages our community to adopt, rather than shop, when searching to bring home a new pet this season. With over a hundred adoptable dogs and cats to choose from, it’s an ideal time to add a new member to your family. For all pets, adoption fees will be waived in lieu of a donation made to the Friends of Manatee County Animal Services (FoMCAS). This promotion is effective from November 20 through January 5. Adoptions include spay/neuter, microchip, and rabies certificate -- a value of over $300 in savings. Manatee County residents are required to license their new pet for an additional $20.
The Palmetto Adoption Center and Shelter, located at 305 25th Street West in Palmetto, and Manatee County Cat Town, located at 216 6th Avenue East in Bradenton, are available to visit by appointment only. You can make your online appointment by going to mymanatee.org/pets and filling out an adopter profile and reserving your appointment date.
Unfortunately, not every pet will find their forever family in time for the holidays. We believe every pet benefits from being in a home, even if, for only a few days. MCAS is bringing back holiday fostering, our short-term, holiday season fostering option. From November 20 – January 5, you can take home a shelter dog or cat for 2 – 5 days. For all foster participants, MCAS will provide all food and necessary supplies. For more information, please fill out the express application at http://bit.ly/petemerg.
The “Stuff our Stockings” Donation Drive will have drop-off bins at both locations. People are encouraged to drop off donations of new toys and treats for the homeless animals at our shelter. MCAS is requesting donations of the following items:
- Small treats for dogs and cats
- Fleece cat blankets
- Various cat toys
- Nylabone products for dogs (medium to large size)
- Kong Classic products for dogs (large size)
For our full Amazon Wish List, visit bit.ly/mcas_amazon. Donations can be shipped directly to the Palmetto shelter or dropped off in a bin outside our locations.
MCAS will be closed to the public on the following dates: November 26, November 27, December 24, December 25, and January 1.
MCAS is Manatee County’s only open-admission shelter facility, taking in an average of 12 animals per day in 2019. The mission of MCAS is to maintain public health and safety through the enforcement of laws and ordinances related to animals, to promote responsible pet ownership, promote adoptions, and reduce pet overpopulation. For the 2019 calendar year, MCAS had a 95% save rate.
Adoption donations will benefit Friends of Manatee County Animal Services. FoMCAS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves as a fundraising arm whose mission is to work hand in hand with Manatee County Animal Services to enrich the lives of the shelter animals by raising funds to provide additional resources, medical care, and heartworm treatment. The funds raised by FoMCAS go directly to help the shelter animals and to help with initiatives at the shelter such as dog beds, turf for the play yards, enrichment items, and medical care.
For media inquiries, contact Hans Wohlgefahrt, MCAS Outreach and Events Specialist, at [[email protected]%20][email protected] or 941-417-9592 or visit mymanatee.org/pets
For information about Friends of Manatee County Animal Services, contact Caryn Hodge at [email protected] or 941-713-3105 or visit www.fomcas.org.
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