Manatee County Animal Shelter Overflowing, Commissioner Says

Palmetto, FL — Area residents in search of a new pet might want to give Manatee County Animal Services a try. The county’s shelter is filled to the brim and officials are hoping to remedy that.

According to County Commissioner Carol Whitmore, the shelter had 179 dogs and 92 cats in its care as of Wednesday evening. The building at 305 25th St. W. in Palmetto is only designed to hold about 80 dogs.

“We still have critical need for adoptions, transfers to rescues and volunteers,” Whitmore wrote in an email. “Please get this message to Manatee and Sarasota County that we need everyone’s help.”

The county’s standard adoption fees are $80 for dogs and puppies and $40 for cats and kittens. Those fees cover such things as spaying or neutering, initial vaccines, microchipping, heartworm testing for dogs, flea and tick prevention and more.

The Palmetto shelter is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, but is closed Sundays and on holidays.

To find out more, visit Manatee County Animal Services online.

Photos courtesy of Carol Whitmore

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