Valentine’s Day “Clear the Shelter” Weekend Coming to MCAS: All Adoption Fees Waived For 4 Days Only

Valentine’s Day “Clear the Shelter” Weekend Coming to MCAS: All Adoption Fees Waived For 4 Days Only
Posted on 02/05/2019

PALMETTO, FL (Feb. 5, 2019) — Can you feel the love? With hundreds of loving, adoptable pets waiting to go to forever homes, Manatee County Animal Services (MCAS) invites our community to find their perfect pet love match during this upcoming, 4-day special weekend. Valentine’s Day “Clear the Shelter” Weekend is February 14-17 at both MCAS locations.All pet adoption fees, for both dogs and cats, will be waived in lieu of a donation made to Friends of Manatee County Animal Services (FoMCAS), the shelter’s official 501c3 non-profit partner. They helm the Heal My Heart Fund, which treats heartworm positive shelter dogs at MCAS.

MCAS and FoMCAS hope to raise awareness about heartworm in our community. On average, 30% of dogs that enter MCAS are heartworm positive. Heartworm disease is a serious condition that results in severe lung disease, heart failure, other organ damage and death in pets if left untreated. It is caused by a parasitic worm that is spread through the bite of a mosquito. Heartworm disease is not contagious, nor is it transmitted from one dog to another. In 2018, FoMCAS funded the treatment of 115 HW positive dogs. They are one of the only nonprofits that funds heartworm positive dogs at an open-admission shelter. 100% of donations collected during Valentine’s Day “Clear the Shelter” Weekend will go towards the Heal My Heart Fund. Can you feel the love?

All fee-waived cat and dog adoptions include spay/neuter, microchip and rabies certificate (a value of over $400). Additionally, all adopters will receive a complimentary Bark Box, collar and leash combo by Max & Neo, and a Purina New Adopter Bag of pet food.

Manatee County residents are required to license their new pet for an additional $20. The special promotion will be held at the MCAS located at 305 25th Street West in Palmetto and 1002 Manatee Avenue West in Bradenton (cats only). MCAS in Palmetto is now open 7 days a week. Please go to our website, www.mymanatee.org/pets, to view all adoptable pets and for hours and directions.

Manatee County Animal Services is Manatee County’s only open-admission shelter facility, taking in an average of 15 animals per day in 2018. 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. Currently, MCAS has a 94% save rate.

Please note that Manatee County Animal Services will be closed on Monday, February 18th in observance of Presidents Day.

For information about Manatee County Animal Services, please contact Hans Wohlgefahrt at [email protected] or 941-742-5933 ext. 8307 or visit www.mymanatee.org/pets.

For information about Friends of Manatee County Animal Services (FoMCAS), please contact Caryn Hodge at [email protected] or 941-713-3105 or visit www.fomcas.org.