Friends of Strays to participate in state-wide adoption event June 23-25
Monday, June 5, 2023
Petco Love Launches Florida’s First Statewide Mega Adoption Event With a Goal of Finding 5,000 Homes for Pets in Florida Shelters
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.: Friends of Strays Animal Shelter is proudly joining forces with Petco Love, a national non-profit working to lead and inspire change for animals, BOBS from Skechers™, and animal welfare groups across the state of Florida on a shared mission to find homes for 5,000 dogs and cats in shelters. The Petco Love Florida Mega Adoption Event will take place on June 23, 24 and 25 in Petco Pet Care Centers and local animal shelters.According to the most recent nationwide data, Florida ranks 46th in the nation when it comes to saving the lives of pets in shelters. In 2021, nearly 22,616 dogs and cats were killed in animal shelters across Florida. With help from Petco Love, local animal shelters are aiming to close that gap by finding homes for 5,000 pets in three days.
This event is the first of its kind for Florida, with participation from 50 organizations across 31 counties. Thousands of pets will be available for adoption. All pets will be spayed or neutered and up to date on vaccinations. All adoption fees will be waived, some exclusions may apply.
Locally, pets will be available at Friends of Strays, 2911 47th Ave. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33714. Available pets can also be seen at friendsofstrays.org/adopt. Adoption fees will be waived June 23-25. Donations are encouraged.
The event is funded by a lifesaving investment from Petco Love, in partnership with BOBS from Skechers™, for the Jacksonville Humane Society (JHS) and is facilitated by JHS’s Florida Leaders in Lifesaving program.
“We know that Floridians love animals and there is no better way to add a family member than by adopting from your local shelter. Summers are notoriously challenging for shelters nationwide and this is an opportunity to change the lives of so many dogs and cats – not just those adopted but also the ones who will come to shelters in the months afterward,” said Denise Deisler, JHS CEO. “Petco Love has been instrumental in Florida’s increased lifesaving for many years, and we are so appreciative for their continued dedication to animals and animal welfare organizations in the Sunshine State. We cannot wait for Floridians to come together and support our shelters!”
“Petco Love is committed to creating a world where every shelter pet finds a loving family, and no pet is unnecessarily euthanized,” said Petco Love president, Susanne Kogut. “We are proud to partner with Jacksonville Humane Society and 50 organizations across the state to make an impact on so many pets and pet parents’ lives through adoption.”
“It’s our intent to help and save as many shelter animals as possible – it’s why we created the BOBS from Skechers philanthropic collection,” said Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers. “Compassionate animal lovers can look good by wearing BOBS from Skechers shoes, apparel and accessories, and feel good as their purchase is resulting in a donation from Skechers—to the tune of more than $9.7 million to date. This has helped or saved more than 1.8 million dogs and cats.”
In addition to helping pets find homes through The Petco Love Florida Mega Adoption Event, Skechers is also holding register round-ups at Skechers retail stores in the United States this month for animals in need. All funds raised in Florida will go directly to Petco Love’s partner animal welfare organizations within the state.
“Friends of Strays is actively working to change the outcomes of pets in need in our community for the better. We are excited to participate in this lifesaving adoption weekend, and we will have lots of cats and dogs ready for new homes!” said Dara Eckart, Friends of Strays CEO.
To learn more about the event, including days, times, and locations in your area, visit megaadoptflorida.com. Information is also available on social media by following @MegaAdoptFlorida on Facebook and Instagram or using #MegaAdoptFL.
About Petco Love:
Petco Love is a life-changing nonprofit organization that makes communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since our founding in 1999 as the Petco Foundation, we’ve empowered animal welfare organizations by investing $350 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. We’ve helped find loving homes for more than 6.7 million pets in partnership with Petco and organizations nationwide.
Our love for pets drives us to lead with innovation, creating tools animal lovers need to reunite lost pets, and lead with passion, inspiring and mobilizing communities and our more than 4,000 animal welfare partners to drive lifesaving change alongside us. Join us. Visit petcolove.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn to be part of the lifesaving work we lead every day.
About Friends of Strays Animal Shelter:
Friends of Strays Animal Shelter is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and St. Petersburg’s oldest no-kill animal shelter. Founded in 1978, our top priority is to connect animals in need of rescue with people who will love them. In addition to pet adoption, we seek to create a better world for pets and people by focusing on life saving programs promoting pet retention, community empowerment, Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) practices, and humane pet ownership education. We are located at 2911 47th Ave. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33714. Learn more about us on our website: friendsofstrays.org
About Florida Leaders in Lifesaving:
Florida Leaders in Lifesaving is a program of the Jacksonville Humane Society, located in Jacksonville, FL, that unites Florida’s shelters and clinics in a statewide mission to save the lives of dogs and cats in shelters, inspire collaborative action, and engage the hearts, hands and minds of our communities so Florida can serve as a national leader in lifesaving. Learn more at floridaleadersinlifesaving.org.
About BOBS from Skechers™:
BOBS from Skechers’ charitable collection of shoes, apparel and accessories have improved animals’ lives: over the past seven years, Skechers has contributed more than $9.7 million to help over 1.8 million shelter pets, including saving more than 1.3 million rescued animals in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Japan. It all started in 2011, when Skechers launched a movement to support children impacted by natural disasters and poverty – a cause that has helped the Company donate more than 16 million new pairs of shoes to kids in more than 60 countries worldwide. To learn more about BOBS from Skechers’ commitment to making a difference, visit BOBSfromSkechers.com and follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
