Congratulations to Rescue Pets of Florida for being applauded by Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.
Rescue Pets of Florida’s mission is to rescue, vaccinate, spay/neuter, and find loving adoptive homes for stray, abandoned and neglected cats and dogs. The nonprofit also wants to increase public awareness of the companion animal overpopulation issue, and provide solutions to end the killing of adoptable animals in the Tampa Bay area.
The nonprofit did an outstanding 3,500+ adoptions last year. It routinely works with local shelters and the Humane Society, who are usually always at capacity (or over).
“It’s the fulfillment one feels when doing it, that makes it all worthwhile,” says Jeanine Cohen, founder of Rescue Pets of Florida.
Adoption is so important to the nonprofit that last year they spent over $150,000 just on vet care, which ensures each furry friend is healthy and ready to be adopted.
“I am super proud of how this rescue is able to fundraise to pay for life-saving operations that most people wouldn’t be able to afford,” says Cohen.
One of the nonprofits’ cats, DoSiDo, is a perfect example of this. DoSiDo had to have a Pectus Excavatum, which ran close to $4,000. Another cat, Sidney, recently had to have a liver shunt repair that cost $3,750.
“When you donate to us, every penny counts. We are committed to saving animals that may have otherwise been euthanized due to their high cost of care,” says Cohen.
According to Cohen, the two main ways you can help support Rescue Pets of Florida is by becoming a volunteer, or fostering a pet in need.
Cohen and her team will make sure to provide a foster parent with all the support and materials they will need, which includes a supportive group chat that will answer any questions and provide emotional support to help with the process.
The community can also help support Rescue Pets of Florida by sending monetary donations through its Paypal, Venmo, Facebook Page or by purchasing items on its Amazon wishlist, which you can also drop off at any of the nonprofit’s adoption center locations. Some of the nonprofit’s most needed items are wet cat food and pee pads.
Rescue Pets of Florida’s adoption centers, which are open seven days a week, are located at five PetSmarts in the Tampa Bay area. One of them is right here at the PetSmart at The Grove in Wesley Chapel.
“We would not be successful with our adoptions without PetSmart Charities,” says Cohen, “We show cats and kittens seven days a week at each of our locations. PetSmart donates a free bag of food, and coupons galore to each adopter.”
For more information, go to www.rescuecatsofflorida.org. To check out the nonprofit’s Amazon Wishlist, go to tinyurl.com/2s3u2fcs.
