The Cat Box Adoption Center reopens Friday, Nov. 29! Beginning Nov. 29, available cats and kittens will be ready for adoption at 3015 46th Ave. N, St Petersburg FL 33714.

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

Published: 10/21/24

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

Published: 09/11/24

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

Published: 07/01/24

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

Published: 06/05/24

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

Published: 05/03/24

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

Published: 04/25/24

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

Published: 04/04/24

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

Published: 03/01/24

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

Published: 02/27/24

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

Published: 01/26/24

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

Published: 01/02/24

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

Published: 12/14/23

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

Published: 08/09/23

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

Published: 08/09/23

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

Published: 07/26/23

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

Published: 07/26/23

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

Published: 06/28/23

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

Published: 06/08/23

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

Published: 06/08/23