Manatee County, Fla., The 6th Annual Adopt-A-Palooza will be held, Saturday, May 21st at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Boulevard in Palmetto. Hours are 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission and parking are FREE.
Returning this year, after a two-year postponement due to the pandemic, Adopt-A-Palooza is the largest one-day adoption and expo-style event in Manatee County and will feature over 100 adoptable puppies, dogs, cats and kittens from Manatee County Animal Services (MCAS), local shelters and animal rescues – all under one roof.
For pets from MCAS, all adoption fees will be waived in lieu of a donation made to the Friends of Manatee County Animal Services (FoMCAS). Manatee County residents are required to license their new pet for an additional $20 tag fee. All pets will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated and micro-chipped.
The family-friendly event will include over 25 retail vendors selling a variety of pet products. New this year, offered by Manatee County Animal Services, is a free pet vaccine and microchip clinic. Pet owners with dogs and cats in need of vaccinations and/or microchips can bring their pet to the event to receive them at no charge. This free clinic is offered from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis.
The event also includes information tables with special pricing on services such as spay and neuter, chipping, veterinarian services and more. Raffles and silent auction items will be available.
On the day of the event, the Palmetto Adoption Center, located at 305 25th Street West in Palmetto, will be closed to the public. The Cat Town Adoption Center, located at 216 6th Avenue East in Bradenton, will remain open on the day of the event. The Bishop Animal Shelter (for lost and found pets), located at 5718 21st Avenue West in Bradenton, will be open during normal business hours. For all locations, appointments are preferred, but walk-ins will be accommodated when available.
The proceeds from the event will benefit Friends of Manatee County Animal Services. Friends of Manatee County Animal Services is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves as a fundraising arm whose mission it is to work hand in hand with Manatee County Animal Services to enrich the lives of the shelter animals by raising funds to provide additional resources, medical care and heart worm treatment. The funds raised by FoMCAS go directly to help the shelter animals and to help with initiatives at the shelter such as dog beds, turf for the play yards, enrichment items, crates and medical care.
MCAS is Manatee County’s only open-admission shelter facility, taking in an average of 9 animals per day in 2021. The mission of MCAS is to maintain public health and safety through the enforcement of laws and ordinances related to animals, issue and maintain records for annual pet licensing, to promote responsible pet ownership, promote adoptions, and reduce pet overpopulation. For the 2020-21 fiscal year, MCAS had a 94% save rate.
For the latest information about Adopt-A-Palooza, please visit www.mymanatee.org/aap
For media inquiries about Manatee County Animal Services, please contact Hans Wohlgefahrt at hans.wohlgefahrt@mymanatee.org or 941-417-9592 or visit www.mymanatee.org/pets.
For information about Friends of Manatee County Animal Services, please contact Caryn Hodge at carynhodgefomcas@gmail.com or 941-713-3105 or visit www.fomcas.org.
