Stray Thoughts
TNVR in Pinellas County
Cathy Unruh is a board member of Friends of Strays. Cathy got to know our organization when we performed surgeries for the TNVR non-profit she co-founded, MEOW Now – which has since merged... Read more
Navigating Rental Agreements When Owning a Pet
Friends of Strays is fortunate to have supporters from all kinds of backgrounds. Eve Epstein-Ortiz is a member of the Board of Directors, and an attorney in the Tampa Bay area. Navigating pet... Read more
Keeping pets safe during July 4 fireworks!
While many people may enjoy the excitement and thrill of watching a fireworks show, for pets it can be very scary and traumatic.
More pets are reported missing after July 4 than any other holiday.... Read more
Moving From Animal Lover to Animal Advocate
Friends of Strays is fortunate to have supporters who have a depth of knowledge in the world of animal welfare. Arin Greenwood is a member of the Friends of Strays Board of Directors who grew from... Read more
My Adoption Story
Friends of Strays is so grateful to the thousands of people who open up their hearts and homes to adopt a shelter pet every single year. Rosa Lopez, a member of our Board of Directors, adopted her... Read more
National Hairball Awareness Day Adoption Special and more information about hairballs!
If you’ve ever had a cat, you know that nothing can bring you out of a dead sleep like that sound they make when producing… a hairball!
April 26 is National Hairball Awareness Day,... Read more
Sweet and Simple Memories: Volunteering at Friends of Strays
Friends of Strays could not do what we do without the support of our amazing volunteers. From animal enrichment to housekeeping to representing us at events, our volunteers are a vital part of our... Read more
How do you not keep all your foster kittens?
Are you tempted to keep all the kittens you foster? That is the question I get most often when people learn I foster for Friends of Strays, in addition to being a member and secretary of the Board... Read more
World Spay Day: Feb. 27!
Today is an important awareness day: World Spay Day!One of the best ways to keep more cats and dogs from ending up in an animal shelter is getting them spayed or neutered so they don't create more... Read more
Inside Animal Welfare: How Shelters and Rescues Work Together
Let me take you on a short but deep behind-the-scenes dive into the interconnected world of animal welfare.
I am the Board Chair for Friends of Strays Animal Shelter, but I’m also a regional... Read more
The Next 5 Years at Friends of Strays
Greetings! Friends of Strays is starting a series of posts on our blog, “Stray Thoughts,” featuring topics related to our organization and big-picture ideas in the world of animal... Read more
Don't adopt a pet as a surprise holiday gift. Do this instead.
Don't adopt a pet as a surprise gift for someone else.
Around the holidays and Christmas, we often have folks wanting to get a cat or dog for a loved one as a gift. It's a well-intentioned idea,... Read more
Introducing your shelter dog to your dog or cat
One common reason that people return pets to the shelter is the new dog not getting along with their current pet. However, many times this inability to cohabitate is the fault of the person, not... Read more
Introducing your shelter cat to your dog or cat
One common reason that people return pets to the shelter is that the new cat or dog does not get along with their current pet. However, many times this inability to cohabitate is the fault of the... Read more
Did you adopt a dog? Here's a guideline to how they may adjust to their new home!
Every pet is an individual and will adjust to their new home differently. Give your shelter dog the space and patience they need to understand their new life! The 3-3-3 guideline is to help you... Read more
Did you adopt a cat? Here's a guideline to how they might adjust to their new home!
The 3-3-3 guideline can help you understand how your cat may be adjusting. Read more
Keeping pets safe during July 4 fireworks
While many people may enjoy the excitement and thrill of watching a fireworks show, for pets it can be very scary and traumatic.
More pets are reported missing after July 4 than any other holiday.... Read more
Taking home your new dog: decompression 101
You've done it: you've adopted a dog, and brought them to their new home!But, the thing is, they don't know that yet. As much as we want to think that dogs are grateful for being rescued, for them... Read more
Taking home your new cat: decompression 101
You've done it: you've adopted a cat, and brought them to their new home!But, the thing is, they don't know that yet. As much as we want to think that cats are grateful for being rescued, for them... Read more
