Animal shelter to host National Adoption Weekend 

The Alachua County Animal Resources and Care and the Best Friends Animal Society will team up for the National Adoption Weekend which encourages adoption over purchasing pets. 

The event is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. this Friday and Saturday at the Animal Resources and Care shelter located at 3400 NE 53^rd Ave. in Gainesville.   

For the event, the animals are ready to take home. Animals are sprayed, neutered, and up-to-date on vaccinations and all adoption fees will be waived.  

Anyone considering adding a new furry friend to the family can make a difference by choosing to adopt instead of buying their pet.  

A recent study released by Best Friends showed that U.S. shelters have increased animal intakes and decreased pet adoptions. Consistent overcrowding is a crisis for the animal welfare community as many shelters are over capacity.  

Recent problems included turning away animals, staffing shortages, and decreased volunteers which led to pressing times for the animal shelter.    

“The overcrowding crisis is a nationwide concern, and we will need the community’s help for a long time,” said Faren Healey, Alachua County Shelter supervisor, in a statement. “We need people to step forward and adopt or become fosters with us. The more adoptions and fosters we have, the more lives we can save. Period. If you’ve ever thought about adopting a pet, now is the time.”