JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville’s Animal Care and Protective Services is asking the public to foster or adopt pets to help ease severe shelter overcrowding. Right now, the shelter is housing 433 dogs in 264 kennels.
Additional animals are expected to arrive this week following two large impound cases.
To encourage adoptions and relieve facility strain, all adoption fees are currently waived.
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Potential adopters can use JaxPawFinder, the city’s AI-powered app, to match with animals based on age, size, personality and energy level prior to visiting.
The shelter is located at 2020 Forest Street in Jacksonville and is open daily from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Animal Care and Protective Services Chief Michael Bricker emphasized the role of community support during periods of high shelter occupancy.
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“Even brief foster breaks from the shelter are invaluable for our pets, since we learn so much about them and they have a chance to decompress in a home with a family,” Bricker said. “Every kennel we free up by sending a pet to foster or to a loving home means we can help another animal in need. Being this full is hard on both the dogs and the staff caring for them and the community stepping up to help will make a huge difference. Lifesaving requires everyone in a community and everyone can make a difference.”
Over the past year, ACPS cared for nearly 30% more animals while increasing total adoptions by 44.5%, rising from 2,890 to 4,176 pets.
Dog intake climbed 29%, dog adoptions increased nearly 50% and owner reunions jumped 50.2%.
Euthanasia rates for dogs fell 15.5%, bringing the shelter’s dog save rate to 88.41%.
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