When you think about Thanksgiving, it's all about spending the holiday with family and friends. Sadly, many shelter pets spend the holidays alone in their kennels. Manatee County Animal Welfare (MCAW) wants to change that. This season, we believe every pet deserves a "Home for the Holidays," and MCAW is encouraging short-term fostering for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.
MCAW has made Holiday Fostering simple and easy, so you can bring a "guest" pet to your home this Thanksgiving. Every pet benefits from being in a home, even if, for only a few days. Starting November 21, you can take home a shelter dog or cat for a time duration of your choice. For all foster participants, MCAW will provide all food and necessary supplies. To get started, please visit mymanatee.org/pets or fill out the express application at http://bit.ly/petemerg.
If you are looking to adopt, MCAW has over 150 pets looking for homes. For all pets, adoption fees will be waived in lieu of a donation made to the Friends of Manatee County Animal Services (FoMCAS). This promotion is effective from November 21 through January 3. Adoptions include spay/neuter, microchip, and rabies certificate -- a value of over $300 in savings. Manatee County residents are required to license their new pet for an additional $20.
"We are asking residents to open their hearts and homes to help give a homeless pet a holiday outside the shelter," said Animal Welfare Division Chief Sarah Brown. "To be with a family in a loving home is what the holidays are all about."
The Palmetto Adoption Center and Shelter is located at 305 25th Street West in Palmetto, and Manatee County Cat Town is located at 216 6th Avenue East in Bradenton. View all adoptable pets at mymanatee.org/pets.
Early next month, MCAW will follow up with an updated release for Home for Holidays initiatives for December.
MCAW will be closed to the public on November 24 and 25.
MCAW is Manatee County’s only open-admission shelter facility, taking in an average of 9 animals per day in 2021. We now have 3 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 2020-21 fiscal year, MCAW had a 94% save rate.
MCAW can be reached at 941-742-5933. View information on adoptable pets, location directions and hours, volunteer opportunities, and more at www.mymanatee.org/pets