Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department is experiencing overcapacity of animals in the shelter’s care. Effective Friday, July 15, Animal Services will implement an essential intake policy prioritizing the intake of injured, abused, or neglected animals in urgent need of shelter, to ensure the County can continue to provide the best possible care for all animals.
“We need the communities’ help now more than ever to get our pets into loving homes,” said Bronwyn Stanford, Director of Animal Services. “If you are considering adopting, now is the time, and if you can temporarily house a pet as a foster family, please come in today.”
“There is a national crisis in sheltering emerging in which adoptions are plummeting while intakes are increasing,” said Dr. Julie Levy, the Fran Marino Professor of Shelter Medicine Education at the University of Florida. “Shelters across the country are converting to emergency intakes only as their crowding explodes out of control.”
The Animal Services’ Pet Adoption and Protection Center will remain open to the public for ALL other services, including veterinary wellness care, adoptions, lost and found, spay/neuter services, etc. The Animal Services’ animal welfare officers will continue to respond to calls from the community concerning public safety, injured animals, and animal abuse concerns.
“We urge our community to help our animals in need by adopting,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “With more than 600 pets currently available for adoption, Animal Services urgently needs adopters and fosters to open their hearts and homes to shelter pets, especially medium and large dogs, and bring a pet’s unconditional love into your life this summer.”
