Manatee County Animal Services seeks help for overcapacity

Manatee County Animal Services shelter is only supposed to hold 80 dogs.

But last week, its tally was 187, forcing some dogs to be doubled up at the shelter’s runs.

“We’re way over capacity,” said Sarah Brown, Manatee County Animal Services Chief.

The shelter is seeking help from other shelters, rescues and volunteers who could foster animals until more space opens up in the Palmetto shelter. As of Monday, the number was 178 dogs and 109 cats.

Last week, the shelter took almost 50 dogs from an animal case in Manatee County that is currently undergoing investigation. It’s also kitten season, Brown said, so the shelter is also getting flooded with kittens and mother cats.

“This is a community issue right now, and we need the community’s help,” she said.

Animal Services is cutting adoption fees in half for the month of June to help facilitate adoptions.

For those in the community who can’t officially adopt but have room to care for an animal, fostering is another option that the shelter is hoping to expand. This program allows dogs and cats to get accustomed to staying in a home and also helps animals recover from stress or illness — a shelter can be a stressful situation for some animals.  

“If anyone is interested in fostering we’d welcome them,” Brown said.

For more information about the shelter, or to learn how to become a foster, visit the county’s Animal Services page or call 742-5933.