Pinellas County begins free animal adoptions during shelter renovations

Pinellas County Animal Services is offering free animal adoptions to help find loving homes for animals this holiday season as a major renovation at the shelter gets underway.

Beginning in mid-December, the project will add air conditioning, improve kennel space for the animals living there and strengthen the buildings to be able to withstand a Category 4 hurricane.

The Penny for Pinellas-funded project is expected to cost $3.5 million.

During the project, the shelter will have a greatly reduced capacity to hold animals, so Animal Services needs the public to help adopt and foster animals throughout the next year.

“When the renovations on the kennels start, we’re going to lose over 50% of our dog housing capability, so we need to get as many dogs into loving homes as we can and keep that up through the duration of the construction,” Pinellas County Animal Services Director Doug Brightwell said.

To reach that goal, all animal adoptions will be free until the new shelter space is opened next year.

“We’ve made the adoption process really easy,” Brightwell said. “It’s free adoptions for the duration of the construction project. You’ll get a bag that includes treats, toys and a sample of food to make that transition to your home easier. Plus, all our dogs and cats are also microchipped, licensed, fully vaccinated and sterilized so they are ready to go home with you today.”

Residents can find adoptable dogs at pinellas.gov/dogs and adoptable cats at pinellas.gov/cats. They can also help by fostering an animal at their home. To learn more about our foster and foster-to-adopt programs or to register, call (727) 582-2600 and press option 8 to speak to customer service.