Adoption Process

In accordance with CDC guidance updated on July 27, 2021, Friends of Strays requires all staff and visitors to wear a face mask inside the shelter regardless of vaccination status. Thank you for your cooperation.

Cut down on your time inside our adoption center and fill out an online application here!

For dogs only: If you are looking to adopt a dog and already have a dog at home, please bring them with you to your appointment.

With as many as 100 companion animals temporarily residing at our shelter at any given time, Friends of Strays strives to provide the utmost love and care for every animal that comes through our doors. Our adoption fees include a wellness exam, vaccines, spay/neuter surgery. and a microchip. 

Preparing for your Visit to our Shelter

Adopting a dog or cat from Friends of Strays is a wonderful experience! All pets must be adopted in person, so please come by our shelter at 2911 47th Ave N. St. Petersburg, FL. We are open five days a week (closed Mondays and Tuesdays) to assist you in finding your new best friend. When you come into the shelter, we invite you to interact with our dogs and/or cats. Our adoptions staff will be available to answer questions and give you as much information as possible on our homeless pets. Please remember that most of our animals are strays, so we have a limited history prior to their arrival at our shelter. We will do our best to make the perfect match, but adopters need to commit to working with the companion animal they choose to add to their family..

Adoption Requirements

Friends of Strays reserves the right to deny any adoption that we see as unsuitable for the animal and/or adopter. It is important to the entire Friends of Strays staff that all animals in our care find the right home. We will not adopt cats to families who intend to declaw or allow their cats to be indoor/outdoor cats as both of these situations negatively affect the health and well-being of the animal. See our position statement on declawing. We will not adopt dogs to families who intend to ear crop, tail dock, implement debarking techniques, or have the dog live outside. 

  • You must be at least 18 years of age to adopt from Friends of Strays.
  • We require a government-issued photo ID.

Bringing Home Your New Family Member

All dogs must go home with an approved leash and collar; all cats must go home in an approved carrier. You may bring these items in with you, or we have them available for purchase at the time of adoption. We only accept credit card or cash payments for the adoption.

Every adopted animal will go home with a recent medical history, information on a microchip already registered to the adopter, and a sample bag of food.

Adoption Fees

Cats:

Specialty Breeds: $200+
Kittens (Under 1 Year): $75
Perfect Pair Kittens (Under 1 Year): $100
Cats (1-7 Years Old): $50
Perfect Pair Cats (1-7 Years Old): $65
Senior Cats (7+ Years Old): $25
FeLV Cats and Kittens (Under 1 Year): Fee Waived

Dogs:

Island Dogs and Puppies: $300+
Small Dogs and Puppies (under 7 Years Old)$300
Medium to Large Puppies (under 1 year): $200
Adult Medium to Large Dogs (1-7 Years Old): $150
Seniors - all sizes (7+ Years Old): $100

Make An Appointment With Your Veterinarian

Most of the animals we take in have unknown histories. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the health of any animal adopted from Friends of Strays. Our staff and medical team provide the best possible care and treatment to each animal during their time with Friends of Strays, but their stay is limited and there is a chance that an existing parasite or virus may not become apparent until after they are in their new home.

We suggest making an appointment with your veterinarian for a wellness check within two weeks after adoption. You may also want to inquire about discounts for pets that were adopted from rescue groups.