Manatee County Animal Welfare (MCAW) will once again participate in “Clear the Shelters,” the annual, nationwide pet adoption drive, starting on Tuesday, August 1 and running through Thursday, August 31. For the entire month, adoption fees will be waived for all pets. Since its inception in 2015, Clear the Shelters has helped more than 860,000 pets find new homes.
“Manatee County Animal Welfare has 95 dogs and 34 cats ready for adoption in our facilities, said MCAW Division Chief Sarah Brown. “Clear the Shelters is very welcome and couldn't have arrived at a more needed time.”
All adoptions include spay/neuter, microchip and rabies certificate (a value of over $300). Manatee County residents are required to license their new pet for an additional $20. The Palmetto Adoption Center is located at 305 25th Street West in Palmetto, and the Cat Town Adoption Center is located at 216 6th Avenue East in Bradenton. Bishop Animal Shelter, our intake facility for stray pets and offering only limited adoptions, is located at 5718 21st Avenue West in Bradenton.
“Manatee County is working diligently to improve our shelter and the lives of all of our animals,” said At-Large Commissioner George Kruse. “We all believe these amazing animals deserve the best home we can provide while they’re in our temporary care. However, the absolute best home for all our dogs and cats is a permanent home with a loving family.”
Plan your visit by going to mymanatee.org/pets to view all adoptable pets. Walk-ins are welcome, but you can also schedule an appointment by calling MCAW or going to the website.
MCAW is Manatee County’s only open-admission shelter facility, taking in an average of 11 animals per day in 2022. There are three locations: Palmetto Adoption Center (pet adoptions), Cat Town Adoption Center (cat adoptions), and Bishop Animal Shelter (lost and found pets). MCAW continues to operate the Pet Pantry Program offering free food and supplies to pet owners facing financial and housing hardships. For the 2021-22 fiscal year, MCAW had a 94% save rate.