Manatee County Urges Residents to Foster Dogs Ahead of Tropical Storm Milton
As Tropical Storm Milton approaches, Manatee County officials are reaching out to residents with a plea to help keep local dogs safe. The Manatee County Animal Welfare (MCAW) department is asking residents who are in a safe place to consider fostering a dog during the storm's impact.
With shelters preparing for potential flooding and overcrowding, fostering offers a temporary refuge for animals in need. All necessary supplies, including food, bedding, and care instructions, will be provided to foster families for the duration of the storm and its aftermath.
Fosters can visit the Palmetto Adoption Center to be matched with a dog. The center is open Monday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. For those unable to pick up a foster dog, Manatee County officials have made arrangements to deliver the animals directly to residents' homes. Anyone interested can call **311** to arrange for a dog to be brought to them.
In a recent social media post, officials emphasized the urgency of the situation: "Help us keep these pups safe and comfortable during this time."
Fostering will continue throughout the next week as the community braces for the potential impacts of the storm. By opening their homes to these animals, residents can provide a much-needed safe haven during a time of uncertainty.
For more information, or to sign up to foster, residents are encouraged to visit the Palmetto Adoption Center or call MCAW's 311 service.
https://www.mymanatee.org/departments/public_safety/animal_services