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At least 100 cats and dogs find forever homes at Alachua County adoption drive
By Maia Labbe
August 9, 2025 at 7:59 PM EDT
Alachua County Animal Resources is waiving adoption fees for the remainder of August, extending its Summer Lovin’ event after 116 pets found forever homes on Saturday.
The 15th annual event, held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., featured spayed or neutered, microchipped, vaccinated and licensed dogs and cats.
Julie Johnson, director for Animal Resources, said this is their biggest adoption event of the year.
“Shelters across the country right now are so, so full,” Johnson said, “and we have been way at capacity and over capacity. And so we really need this breathing room, especially before the hurricanes start happening, to get families to adopt.”
<i>Wesley Shulman, an employee at animal resources, tries to teach Ricky Bobby to lie down. (Maia Labbe/WUFT News) </i><br/> (4032x3024, AR: 1.3333333333333333)
Summer usually brings an influx of kittens and puppies, leaving shelters struggling to make space. ACAR has 105 dog kennels and 100 cat kennels, according to Johnson.
But the adopt-a-thon had cars overflowing and lining the street. This year, ACAR reached its goal of adopting 100 animals two hours before the event ended.
Sarina Ferrer went to the event looking to adopt a dog and left with a puppy named Billy.
“It was Billy,” she said, “but we’ve decided to name him Battery because he just keeps going.”
At home, she has a cat and a bulldog but recently had to euthanize one of her pets, leaving her dog lonely, she said.
“It’s going to be wonderful,” Ferrer said. “And they do such an awesome job here. This was a wonderful experience.”
<i>Amanda Gabriel and her family watches as their new kitten is prepared to go home. Adopters, staff and volunteers filled the cat room looking for their new pets. (Maia Labbe/WUFT News) </i><br/> (4032x3024, AR: 1.3333333333333333)
ACAR partnered with the University of Florida Student Chapter of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians for the past 15 years to help run the event.
This year, the club received a $7,800 grant from the Wagmore Foundation, an organization that works to prevent needless euthanasia in Alachua County. It also had more than 60 volunteers help run the event.
“Our main job is marketing for the Adopt-A-Thon event and writing a grant to get some money for donated items, raffle items, goodie bag items, things like that,” said Berlin Waters, president of the UF Shelter Club.
Each adoption came with $300 to $600 in amenities. Adopters could take free supplies including toys, beds and collars. They could also put their name in a raffle for more personalized supplies.
For ACAR’s long term animal residents, adopters will go home with extra gifts as an incentive.
“We want people to come out that really want that forever pet, not a short term pet” Johnson said. “We don’t want to recycle pets, right? We want to make sure that it’s the right fit for you and your family.”
The 15th annual event, held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., featured spayed or neutered, microchipped, vaccinated and licensed dogs and cats.
Julie Johnson, director for Animal Resources, said this is their biggest adoption event of the year.
“Shelters across the country right now are so, so full,” Johnson said, “and we have been way at capacity and over capacity. And so we really need this breathing room, especially before the hurricanes start happening, to get families to adopt.”
<i>Wesley Shulman, an employee at animal resources, tries to teach Ricky Bobby to lie down. (Maia Labbe/WUFT News) </i><br/> (4032x3024, AR: 1.3333333333333333)
Summer usually brings an influx of kittens and puppies, leaving shelters struggling to make space. ACAR has 105 dog kennels and 100 cat kennels, according to Johnson.
But the adopt-a-thon had cars overflowing and lining the street. This year, ACAR reached its goal of adopting 100 animals two hours before the event ended.
Sarina Ferrer went to the event looking to adopt a dog and left with a puppy named Billy.
“It was Billy,” she said, “but we’ve decided to name him Battery because he just keeps going.”
At home, she has a cat and a bulldog but recently had to euthanize one of her pets, leaving her dog lonely, she said.
“It’s going to be wonderful,” Ferrer said. “And they do such an awesome job here. This was a wonderful experience.”
<i>Amanda Gabriel and her family watches as their new kitten is prepared to go home. Adopters, staff and volunteers filled the cat room looking for their new pets. (Maia Labbe/WUFT News) </i><br/> (4032x3024, AR: 1.3333333333333333)
ACAR partnered with the University of Florida Student Chapter of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians for the past 15 years to help run the event.
This year, the club received a $7,800 grant from the Wagmore Foundation, an organization that works to prevent needless euthanasia in Alachua County. It also had more than 60 volunteers help run the event.
“Our main job is marketing for the Adopt-A-Thon event and writing a grant to get some money for donated items, raffle items, goodie bag items, things like that,” said Berlin Waters, president of the UF Shelter Club.
Each adoption came with $300 to $600 in amenities. Adopters could take free supplies including toys, beds and collars. They could also put their name in a raffle for more personalized supplies.
For ACAR’s long term animal residents, adopters will go home with extra gifts as an incentive.
“We want people to come out that really want that forever pet, not a short term pet” Johnson said. “We don’t want to recycle pets, right? We want to make sure that it’s the right fit for you and your family.”