Alachua County Animal Resources & Care and
Best Friends Animal Society are teaming up for an adoption campaign to encourage people to choose to adopt, not buy, their next pet. The event is on Friday, September 16, and Saturday, September 17, 2022, from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the Animal Resources & Care shelter (3400 N.E. 53rd Avenue, Gainesville). Adoption fees are waived during this event, and all animals are spayed or neutered and up-to-date on vaccinations.
Anyone considering adding a new pet to their family can make a difference by choosing to adopt instead of purchasing their pet. Due to recent problems such as staffing shortages, limited shelter hours, decreased volunteers, and reduced adoption events, the time is now to help save lives by adopting a pet.
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. Animal Resources & Care sees similar trends. The adoption rates are steadily declining, but the amount of intakes remain consistent.
"The overcrowding crisis is a nationwide concern, and we will need the community's help for a long time," said Alachua County Shelter Supervisor Faren Healey. "We need people to step forward and adopt or become fosters with us. The more adoptions and fosters we have, the more lives we can save. Period. If you've ever thought about adopting a pet, now is the time."
"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, Best Friends Animal Society CEO. "It's quite the opposite. We're 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."
For more information, contact Alachua County Animal Resources and Care at 352-264-6870 or
acas@alachuacounty.us.