JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – Dozens of pets found new homes this weekend thanks to a free pet adoption event, called Whiskers and Waves, held in Jacksonville Beach.
Barks echoed just steps away from the beach as they took in the sea breeze.
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“We’re here with some of our partner agencies in the community to get great dogs into homes,” Franny Buffa, the volunteer services manager at Jacksonville’s Animal Care and Protective Services, said. “We got 30 amazing dogs here with us. Lots of fun.”
The weekend-long event saw dozens of dogs and cats get taken into their new families.
The Jacksonville Humane Society, Jacksonville Animal Care & Protective Services, Nassau County Animal Services and Clay County Animal Services partnered up for this event.
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All the pets were altered, microchipped and vaccinated prior to adoption.
“We’re very lucky to have the support of our community and great adopters,” Buffa said.
Organizers said this event was particularly successful because they could bring the animals to the people. So, a family trip to the beach could end with someone bringing home a new cuddly companion.
That was exactly the case for Tim Jones and his family when they came to the beach and left with their new cat which is now named “Sparkle Pony”.
“The daughter named it,” Jones said, “We’re really proud of that name. She found it on a TV show and she had to have it so Sparkle Pony is happy.”
It is the family’s third cat and was a total coincidence.
They came for a day at the beach and stumbled upon the adorable kittens.
And just like that, Sparkle Pony was added to the family.
“We would’ve never gotten one if they didn’t bring them to us,” Jones said, “We happen to just go to the beach [Saturday] and we came home with a cat. Sparkle Pony is here and here to stay.”
If you are looking to add a pet to your family, ACPS said they will be back next weekend at the Riverside Arts Market for the “Arf Market” and adoption fees will be waived there as well.