Media Release

1:00 p.m.

ALACHUA COUNTY - The dogs of the Alachua County community need your help immediately.  An influx of adoptable dogs has filled the Alachua County Animal Services shelter over capacity.

On January 9, 2007, Alachua County Animal Services received more than 70 dogs which is almost 50% of the shelter's capacity.  The shelter has pledged, along with six other Maddie's Pet Rescue of Alachua County partners to find a home for every healthy and adoptable animal that comes to Animal Services.  Maddie's Partners do not euthanize any adoptable pets in their care. Currently, that pledge is in danger of failing.

Alachua County residents can help save an animal's life in many ways.  Residents currently looking for a dog can visit any of the Maddie's Pet Rescue Partners.  All Partners adopt sheltered animals from the Alachua County Animal Services to care for until adopted into a loving home.  Residents can also help save the animals lives by donating funds, fostering an animal until adopted by a lifelong home, or provide financial assistance to help the Partners pay for temporary boarding of transferred animals.

One Maddie's Partner, the Alachua County Humane Society, arranged for more than 20 dogs to be transferred to their facility.   Animals are also available at the other four Maddie's Partner locations; Gainesville Pet Rescue, Puppy Hill Farm Animal Rescue, Helping Hands Rescue at West End Animal Hospital, and Haile's Angels Pet Rescue.  Fosters and adopters are needed immediately to accommodate these animals. 

Animals are available of every size, weight and energy level.  Please contact the Alachua County Humane Society at (352) 373-5855 or Bob Ryan at the Alachua County Animal Services at (352) 264-6870 if you can do anything to help.  Pictures of some of the rescued animals available for adoption can be seen on www.petfinder.com or www.petharbor.com (due to the large number of intakes and transfers, not every animal is listed).  For a list of Maddie's Pet Rescue of Alachua County partners, visit www.maddiespetrescueofalachua.org.

For more information, please contact Becky Goodman at (352) 373-5855, ext. 12.

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