Complete NE FL shelter, free adoptions offered this weekend

JACKSONVILLE, Fla .– The Jacksonville Humane Society and Animal Welfare and Protection Services joined forces at PetSmart this weekend to find cats and dogs their permanent homes. Free adoption events were held at PetSmart’s Southside and Regency stores.

“It’s National Adoption Weekend,” said Lindsay Layendecker, deputy director of development at the Jacksonville Humane Society.

It couldn’t be better for the Jacksonville Humane Society.

“Shelters across the country are full because it’s summer. We have kitten season with all the baby cats coming in, ”Layendecker said.

The second reason the cages are full is seasonal.

“Sometimes adoptions slow down,” Layendecker said. “People are traveling. They are on vacation. They are out of town. They are in their summer residences, so they may not be adopting, or they are planning to travel. They cannot. adopt a dog and leave in three weeks.

Layendecker said one of the reasons they’re full is actually because of the pandemic as people return to work, so fewer people are available to host or adopt.

“This is our first major offsite store adoption event since February 2020,” Layendecker

The partnership with PetSmart Charities enabled free adoptions at two Jacksonville stores.

“Yeah I like it. It just makes it a little more accessible to us,” Jessica Chapkin said.

Jessica Chapkin adopted a three month old puppy at the free adoption event.

“I just wanted to come over to PetSmart and see if a dog would fall in love with me,” Chapkin said. “I wanted them to make that decision. I feel like I have that, so it’s really rewarding. I’m really excited and happy to support.

Chapkin’s priority is to show the importance of adopting, not shopping.

“I would absolutely rather adopt than go to a breeder just because you want to get them out of an environment that they didn’t like,” Chapkin said. “They go through a lot, so you want to be able to support adoption agencies.”

Click here for more information on how to adopt a refuge animal, and Click here for more information on how to foster.