Summer Lovin adoption event aims to find homes for Alachua County pets
Alachua County officials hope to alleviate excessive overcrowding in their shelter, while also giving pets some much-needed love at an upcoming event.
Alachua County Animal Resources and Care will be hosting the annual Summer Lovin’ Adopt-a-Thon event from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. on Saturday where families can find a furry, forever friend.
The focus is to find permanent homes for the kittens, cats, puppies and dogs that have long filled up the facility. All adoption fees for pets will be waived.
The county shelter, located at 3400 NE 53rd Ave., has been in an emergency intake shutdown since June. The shelter is at capacity and can't take in any new pets at this time.
“If someone adopts, it frees up space for another to be rescued,” said Melea Smith, a second-year veterinarian student at the University of Florida and the Summer Lovin' coordinator.
Shelter News: Alachua County shelter is no longer taking in found animals. Here's how you can help
Adoptions Needed: Alachua County shelter temporarily halts animal intake due to excessive crowding
Overcrowding: Alachua County commissioners seek solutions to animal shelter overcrowding
The issue is compounded with the intake of animals from several high-profile abuse cases in the county and those brought in after the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizers say they hope the weekend's event will relieve that situation, while also creating s loving bonds between animals and humans.
“We are expecting to have about 100 adoptable animals here," Smith said. "I think we can find them all a home.”
This year, like every year, the event will have a 1970's theme. There will be volunteers dressed in hippie-style clothes, pets will have tie-dye bandanas and there will be a 70's-themed photo booth for those who adopt to snap a picture with their new furry friend.
“There will be goodies for every animal to go home with and some extra special baskets for some of the animals who have been here the longest," Smith said.
One dog up for adoption is Lupin, who is nearing his one-year anniversary of living in the shelter. Lupin is a mixed-breed who is described as playful with lots of energy.
Finding homes for some of the pets who have been at the shelter the longest is a top priority for the shelter staff. If people don't help find the pets' homes, then the shelter will have to look for other facilities in the area that might be able to take them in to make room for others. The county shelter has a no-kill policy, while others around the region don't.
For the last 10 years, the UF College of Veterinary Medicine has sponsored the Summer Lovin' event. They make gift bags, create promotions, decorate the shelter and groom pets in advance. Something new this year, organizers plan to have food trucks at the event.
To preview the pets that are available for adoption, go to the animal services tab on www.alachuacounty.us to check out the pet bios.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Free adoption event aims to find homes for dogs, cats in Alachua County
