- 510 dogs and cats were adopted in Jacksonville during a two-day statewide adoption event.
- Eleven Florida shelters participated in the Jacksonville regional event.
- Shelters were at capacity, making the adoptions critical.
Despite heat, rain and thunder, 510 dogs and cats were adopted in two days at the recent Jacksonville component of the statewide Petco Love Florida MEGA Adoption Event.
Eleven Florida shelters participated in the regional event, including the Jacksonville Humane Society and the city-run Animal Care and Protective Services.
“We are thrilled,” Lawrence Nicolas, CEO of the Humane Society, said. “Knowing that 510 dogs and cats are now in loving homes … is truly heartwarming.
“This event came at a time when shelters are at maximum capacity and these adoptions provide much-needed, lifesaving relief,” he said.
The goal of the statewide weekend event was to find adopters for 2,000 dogs and cats from 46 shelters in 34 counties. Sponsor Petco Love is the nonprofit arm of the Petco national pet supplies and services retailer.
“There is nothing more powerful than the moment a shelter pet meets their new family and that’s the heart of this incredible statewide event,” Susanne Kogut, president of Petco Love, said. “We’re creating thousands of new beginnings.”
Regional events were also in Davie, Fort Pierce, Melbourne and Sarasota. The number of pets adopted statewide was still being calculated Monday.
bcravey@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4109