Friends of Strays has temporarily suspended the volunteer program at its St. Petersburg animal shelter, and currently open to just essential staff and people seriously seeking to adopt an animal.
And those animals (like Stevie, pictured) still need homes.
That’s why Friends of Strays—located at 2911 47th Ave N. in St. Petersburg—is waiving adoption fees on all animals indefinitely. Those dogs and cats are all spayed and neutered, up to date on vaccines, and microchipped. Just 10 visitors will be allowed in the building at once.
“Animal shelters, just like most businesses, are facing detrimental impacts of COVID-19,” Friends of Strays CEO, Dara Eckart wrote in a release. Like the rest of Tampa Bay, her shelter is short on staff and has experienced a drastic slowdown in adoptions and donations. It’s also seen an increase in animals who need help.
“Our business is saving the lives of our community’s homeless pets. And make no mistake, if we have to close our doors, animals will unnecessarily die,” Eckart added.
“While Friends of Strays does not euthanize for time and space, we transfer many animals from shelters that do. It is those animals, who we will no longer be able to help, whose lives will no longer be saved. We do our best every day to be there for our community, but now we need your help.”
Even if you can’t adopt, Friends of Strays can still use help.
The shelter is looking for emergency “on-call” fosters willing to care for animals for a minimum of 14 days (interested parties are asked to email foster@friendsofstrays.org with the subject “Emergency Dog Foster,” and include a phone number and list any pets in the home.)
Friends of Strays is also seeking donations after being forced to cancel all fundraising events for the foreseeable future. Combined with no income from adoption fees, the shelter could be facing a hit of $25,000.
If you’re a genie or friends with Jeff Bezos, the shelter also has a wish list of items that will help its mission.
It’s also asking local animal lovers to help “share the message of preparing for your own pets and that there is no connection between pets and the spread of COVID-19.”
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This article appears in Mar 19-26, 2020.