JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — This weekend, hundreds of dogs and cats from the Jacksonville Humane Society and ACPS will be eagerly awaiting adoption at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center. The event aims to match these animals with loving families.

Alongside these organizations, at least six other local shelters will participate in the festival, highlighting the community’s commitment to animal welfare. The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, with convenient free parking available for attendees. Adoption fees will be waived, and all pets will be vaccinated and spayed or neutered.

ACPS Chief Michael Bricker remarked, “The Pet Adoption Festival exemplifies the power of collaboration in Jacksonville’s animal community. By partnering with the Jacksonville Humane Society and nearby shelters, we are presenting a unified effort to save lives.”

ACPS typically receives between 6,000 and 8,000 dogs and cats annually, often resulting in crowded kennels. Events like the Pet Adoption Festival play a crucial role in alleviating this issue by finding homes for these pets.

Each year, ACPS says it takes in anywhere between 6,000 and 8,000 dogs and cats, sometimes leading to overcrowded kennels. That’s where events like this come in. 

“Hundreds of pets will find loving homes, and we will also be able to open up space for the next ones who need us,” said Bricker.

ACPS announced that it plans to bring more than 80 adoptable animals each day. You can preview the shelter’s available pets online or through its recently launched pet matchmaker app, PawFinder.

The shelter will be closed to the public for the duration of the event, but will reopen normally on Monday, Oct. 27.