Animal Shelter

The Escambia County Animal Shelter plays a vital role in the community, offering services that support animal welfare, foster responsible pet ownership, and address the growing issue of pet overpopulation. This article provides a detailed overview of the shelter's offerings, including adoption services, how you can help, volunteering opportunities, and the important role it plays in our community. Whether you're interested in adopting a pet, finding a lost animal, or volunteering, this comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the Escambia County Animal Shelter.

About Escambia County Animal Shelter

The Escambia County Animal Shelter is dedicated to providing a safe, healthy, and caring environment for both the citizens and animals of Escambia County, Florida. Located at 200 W. Fairfield Drive in Pensacola, the shelter offers a variety of services, including pet adoption, pet licensing, animal control, and fostering programs. The shelter works diligently to promote responsible pet ownership and reduce animal overpopulation through its numerous community-focused initiatives.

Services Offered by Escambia County Animal Shelter

Animal Adoption

If you're looking to adopt a furry friend, the Escambia County Animal Shelter offers a wide range of adoptable animals, including dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens. Adoption is a great way to provide a loving home to an animal in need while helping to reduce the overpopulation problem in our local community.

Adoption Process

Adopting an animal from the shelter is straightforward. The shelter provides an adoption process where you can view available pets in person. Adoption hours are Monday through Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. When you arrive, simply inform the staff of your interest in adopting, and they will guide you to the viewing areas for both cats and dogs. You can interact with the animals to see if they are a good fit for your family.

To adopt an animal, you’ll need to:

Visit the shelter to see the available pets.

Provide your state-issued identification and proof of residence (if adopting in Escambia County).

Complete an adoption application and contract.

Pay the adoption fee, which includes spaying or neutering services, vaccinations, and microchipping.

The shelter operates on a first-come, first-serve basis, so it's important to act quickly when you find a pet you'd like to adopt. For more information on available animals, visit the shelter’s Adoptable Animals page or call (850) 595-3075.

Adoption Fees

Adoption fees for pets are as follows:

Cats of all ages: $25
Dogs of all ages: $50

Escambia County residents are also required to purchase a pet license at the time of adoption for an additional fee of $15. This license helps reunite lost pets with their owners and ensures they are up-to-date on rabies vaccinations.

Animal Available for Adoption

While some animals may still be on hold, you can view all available pets through 24PetConnect under the "Adopt" section. If you're looking for a specific pet, be sure to check the shelter regularly, as new animals arrive frequently.

Lost Pet Assistance

If you’ve lost your pet, the Escambia County Animal Shelter provides a service to help you reunite with your furry friend. The shelter recommends checking the 24PetConnect website under the "I Lost A Pet" section to see if your animal has been brought in.

In order to redeem your lost pet, you will need to visit the shelter with proof of ownership. This can include:

Pictures of your pet
Vaccination records
Identifying marks, tags, or microchips

If the shelter has your pet, you’ll need to pay a redemption fee, which varies depending on factors like vaccination status and length of stay.

Pet Licensing

All Escambia County residents are required to license their pets. The pet license ensures that your pet’s rabies vaccination status is up to date and helps authorities quickly identify and return lost pets. The pet tag is also necessary for a variety of animal-related services.

Altered Animal License: $15
Unaltered Animal License: $40

Pet licensing also supports community efforts to reduce pet overpopulation and improve the welfare of animals throughout Escambia County.

To obtain or renew your pet license, visit LicensePet.

How to Help the Escambia County Animal Shelter

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteers play a critical role in the daily operations of the shelter. If you are passionate about helping animals and have some free time, consider volunteering at the Escambia County Animal Shelter. Volunteers assist with a variety of tasks, including animal socialization, event coordination, and administrative work.

Ways to Volunteer

Socializing Animals: Help socialize animals, including dogs and cats, to get them ready for adoption. This is an essential step in preparing them for a new home.

Assisting with Animal Care: Volunteers help with feeding, cleaning, and caring for the animals at the shelter.

Offsite Adoption Events: Volunteers can assist staff with offsite events that promote animal adoption.

Humane Education: You can help conduct educational programs to raise awareness about responsible pet ownership.

Creating Enrichment Toys: Volunteers often create enrichment toys for the animals to enhance their mental and physical well-being.

To become a volunteer, you must complete an online application or visit the shelter in person. Once approved, you'll undergo orientation and receive training to ensure you're ready to assist with various shelter activities.

Fostering Animals

Fostering animals is another excellent way to support the shelter. Fostering helps alleviate overcrowding, and many animals in need of special care, such as sick or young animals, can benefit from a temporary home. There are several types of foster care opportunities available:

Bottle Feeding Fosters: Care for young puppies and kittens who require round-the-clock feeding.

Medical Fosters: Foster animals who need medical care or recovery time before they can be adopted.

Behavior Fosters: Help animals who have behavioral issues and need extra attention and socialization.

Fosters are required to complete the volunteer process and will work with the shelter's foster coordinator to ensure a suitable match.

If you are interested in fostering, reach out to the shelter for more information on how to get involved.

Donations

The shelter always welcomes donations to help cover the costs of caring for the animals. Monetary donations are accepted online via PayPal, and the shelter also needs physical supplies, such as:

Fleece blankets
Dog and cat toys
Leashes and collars
Paper towels and bleach

Your donations make a significant impact on the shelter’s ability to provide necessary care to animals in need.

Volunteer and Foster Application

To start volunteering or fostering, you can apply online or download a foster application. Volunteers and fosters must be at least 12 years old to participate, but children under 18 must have an adult volunteer with them.

Animal Control Services

The Escambia County Animal Control is an essential part of the animal welfare system. This department enforces local ordinances related to animal care, behavior, and safety. Animal control officers are available to respond to a variety of situations, including stray animals, nuisance complaints, and more serious concerns like animal cruelty.

Escambia County Animal Control operates Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. After hours, emergency calls can be directed to (850) 471-6300 or 911.

If you witness animal-related emergencies or need to report a stray animal, contact Animal Control at (850) 595-0097 or email animalcontrol@myescambia.com.

Contact Information for Escambia County Animal Shelter

For further information on services, volunteering, or adopting, here are the contact details for the Escambia County Animal Shelter:

Escambia County Animal Shelter

Phone: (850) 595-3075
Email: animalshelter@myescambia.com
Address: 200 W. Fairfield Drive, Pensacola, FL 32501

Animal Control

Phone: (850) 595-0097
Email: animalcontrol@myescambia.com
Address: 3363 West Park Place, Pensacola, FL 32505

Department of Animal Welfare

Phone: (850) 595-3075
Email: animalshelter@myescambia.com
Address: 200 W. Fairfield Drive, Pensacola, FL 32501

By supporting the Escambia County Animal Shelter in any way possible—whether through adoption, volunteering, donations, or fostering—you can help make a positive impact on the lives of animals and contribute to the well-being of the community.

Escambia County Animal Shelter FAQs

What Are the Adoption Fees at Escambia County Animal Shelter?

Adoption fees at the Escambia County Animal Shelter vary depending on the type of pet. For cats of all ages, the fee is $25, while for dogs of all ages, it is $50. These fees cover essential services such as spaying or neutering, microchipping, vaccinations (including rabies), and other medical care while the animal is at the shelter. Additionally, Escambia County residents are required to pay a $15 pet license fee at the time of adoption. The license ensures the animal is up-to-date on rabies vaccinations and helps reunite lost pets with their owners.

How Can I Find a Lost Pet at Escambia County Animal Shelter?

If you have lost a pet, the best way to start your search is by visiting the 24PetConnect website under the "I Lost A Pet" section. The shelter frequently updates this database with animals that have been brought in. If you believe the shelter has your pet, you will need to bring proof of ownership, such as photos, vaccination records, or microchip details. There may be a redemption fee, depending on factors like vaccination status and length of stay at the shelter.

Can I Volunteer at the Escambia County Animal Shelter?

Yes, the Escambia County Animal Shelter offers several volunteer opportunities to assist with animal care, events, and educational programs. Volunteers can help socialize animals, assist with cleaning and feeding, and contribute to the shelter’s humane education efforts. To volunteer, you must submit an online application and complete an orientation session. Volunteers must be at least 12 years old, with children between the ages of 12-15 requiring a parent or guardian to volunteer alongside them.

What Is the Process for Surrendering a Pet to the Shelter?

The shelter prefers to help owners retain their pets, so if you are facing difficulties and considering surrendering your pet, they offer various resources to assist. However, if you need to surrender an animal, you must schedule an appointment by contacting the shelter directly. The shelter accepts owner surrenders by appointment only, and they may also provide suggestions for alternative solutions to help find a new home for your pet.