Santa Rosa County Animal Services Home for the Pawlidays

Foster a pet this holiday season over Thanksgiving or Christmas through Santa Rosa County Animal Services (SRCAS) 'Home for the Pawlidays' short-term foster program. As a bonus, fosters who decide to keep their holiday furry friends permanently will have their adoption fees waived!

This year, the holiday foster program will be split into two date ranges. The Thanksgiving option will be Nov. 18- Dec. 8. The Christmas option will span Dec. 16- Jan. 6. This allows potential fosters to participate in either holiday or both!

Those interested should complete a foster application, and staff will review the applications to determine the pet that will best fit each foster. The shelter will provide everything a foster parent needs to care for the animal, including food, toys, treats, a harness and a leash.

"We're trying to encourage more of our community members to foster some of our awesome animals, especially through the holidays, to give them a break from the shelter," said Randy Lambert, Santa Rosa County Animal Services Chief. "The shelter is completely full, and getting these animals into loving homes, even temporarily, will ultimately help them find their forever home."

After foster applications are reviewed, shelter staff will reach out directly to schedule pick-up and drop-off times.

Staff also recommends scheduling time to meet animals before picking them up for fostering, but all pets available for adoption online can be fostered. This program gives pets a break from the shelter environment and the opportunity to spend the holidays in a loving foster home. Foster homes give the shelter great insight into the animal's behavior and reduce the number of shelter pets to care for during the holidays.

The shelter asks that foster parents take lots of photos and videos of their temporary pets and share feedback on the animals' behavior, likes and dislikes. For more information, call the shelter at 850-983-4680.

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Santa Rosa County Animal Services' mission is to build a society in which every animal is treated with compassion; we provide humane shelter and care for the approximately 3,500 lost, displaced and victimized animals who enter our doors every year. Our services protect animals and educate the community through outreach, intervention, and enforcement. To learn more, visit www.santarosa.fl.gov/animals.

Serving our community, committed to excellence.

www.santarosa.fl.gov