Welcome to the 3rd installment of the Must LOVE Manatee County Shelter Dogs blog series. “Must LOVE Manatee County Shelter Dogs” hopefully helps inform you on resources, opportunities, and ways to get involved.
This installment is meant to help you determine what type of doggo may be right for you. We’ll cover time commitment, selection criteria, what you should disclose, and different options. If you want to go ahead start your search now you can see all available animals at Manatee County Animal Welfare.
Brando
Brando has been at the shelter for about a month (10/2024) he’s about 7 years old. He is being treated for heart worm by Friends of Manatee County Animal Welfare. He could use an adopter or foster to show him some love.
It is time.
You’ve decided it’s time to add to your family. You want a companion, a playmate, a travel buddy, best buddy, a family pet. Whatever the reason(s) those reasons will be a big part in helping you to find and meet your future best friend and family member. Adopting a dog is a long-term commitment typically 10+ years depending on how old they are when you adopt them. The average lifespan of a dog is 10-13 years and smaller dogs average around 14-16 years old. Manatee County Animal Welfare currently has dogs just shy of a year old up to almost 11 years old and they all need and want someone to love, that will love them back, and give them a home. Hopefully yours.
Zula & Charlie
Zula is a little over 4 years old and is currently in a foster home please email haili.brooks@mymanatee.org for more information!
Charlie is a little over 9 years old and has been at the shelter for over a year. Loves his walks just as much as cuddle time. Housetrained and very food motivated, Charlie would thrive in an adult-only home as the only pet.
Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match.
There are many factors that go into finding and selecting your new best buddy. Don’t fret there is bound to be the perfect match out there for you. You’ll be more likely to meet your best match if you disclose and share relevant information about yourself and your home life. Here are some good prompter questions that will help you identify the best type of dog for you. It’s very easy to overlook some of these things because they are part of your everyday life.
Maya
Maya is a 6 year old sweetheart who adores cuddles and being close to her people. She’s the perfect couch potato, happy to relax by your side, and she’s a dream in the car, always calm and ready for an adventure. Maya walks beautifully on a harness, making every outing enjoyable, and her gentle, loving nature shines through in everything she does.
Do you have other pets? Please disclose all other animals in or around the home or property. This includes chickens, ducks, ferrets, anything.
Your activity level and traffic in and out of the home. Are you a Netflix and chill kind of person that takes leisurely walks? Or are you a busy and active family that likes to hike, bike, boat, and play? House or apartment? Are family and friends over or pretty solitary?
Kids? Do you have any? How old? You’ll want to make sure the dog you select is good with your kiddos.
The shelter has four important steps for adopting a pet. These steps help before your search, during, and after you bring your buddy home.
Next, go to the shelter site and see what dogs are available for adoption, use the filters, check out their bios and intake information, make a list of the ones you’d like more information on and email the shelter for more information or better yet take your list and go to the shelter for meet and greets. Have dogs at home? Bring them along for a meet and greet. Have the kids come too.
Enough about me (you) tell me about you (the dog).
When you’re walking through the adoption rows ask staff (your guide, matchmaker) about the dogs. Nobody knows them better or cares about them more than their caretakers. Ask about their personalities, temperament, activity levels, etc. If it’s helpful add your questions and notes to the list you have so you remember to ask and remember what they said about each one.
Are you dating or ready for a long-term commitment?
You have options. If you know you’ve met the one then do a full adoption. Not sure, ask about the shelter’s Foster to Adopt option. If you’re still on the fence, not really sure what your type is yet, and not quite ready to commit ask about being a volunteer foster. This way you can give a dog a much needed shelter break, a field trip, and at the same time learn more about what kind of doggo is best for you.
November is Adopt a Senior Shelter Dog month.
With about 10+ senior dogs between the ages of 8-11 it would really be awesome if we could help them find a home they can be thankful for and live out their days. If you have it in your heart and your home to hopefully adopt or foster a senior dog please go to the Palmetto shelter to meet any one of these wonderful senior pupperonis in their prime you see them all here.
Pictured Sammy, Condor, Blue, Charlie, and Brando.
Add this Wishlist to your favorites
The shelter and FoMCAW have an Amazon Wishlist for the animals. Deliveries will go straight to the shelter.
*All photos were sourced from the For the Love of Dogs page , Pet Harbor, or my own library. If one is your photo and you want acknowledgement please message me and I’ll add you.
nice article
Thank you!