PLANT CITY, Fla. – A massive pet adoption event is coming to Plant City this weekend, bringing hundreds of dogs from eight different Florida counties under one roof in an effort to clear out overcrowded local shelters.
The Fourth Annual Mega Dog Adoption Event will run from Friday, May 29, through Sunday, May 31, at the Florida Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds, Grimes Family Agricultural Center, located at 2508 W. Oak Ave. Doors will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Organizers state that more than 300 dogs of varying sizes and ages will be available each day. The participating county and municipal shelters include Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, Pasco, Polk, Orange, Marion, and Sumter.
All adoption fees are completely waived for the event, a move made possible through financial backing from the Team Godwin Foundation, the Hillsborough County Pet Resources Foundation, and the Florida Strawberry Festival. Every dog available for adoption is already spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped.
The push to find these animals homes comes at a time when local facilities are facing severe overcrowding. According to county data, shelters across West-Central Florida are consistently operating well above their physical limits. The Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center reports it is currently at roughly 150% capacity for dogs, with some animals staying at the facility for over 100 days.
On Saturday, the event will expand into an “Extravaganza Day” featuring additional community activities. Attendees can access local food trucks and browse booths from regional dog trainers, boarding businesses, and groomers. Plant City Fire Rescue will host a “touch-a-truck” display for families, and a OneBlood bus will be on-site for blood donations.
Saturday’s schedule also includes an appearance by Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin, who is attending on behalf of the presenting sponsor, the Team Godwin Foundation.
For those who want to preview animals ahead of time, a full list of available pets can be found online through the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center’s virtual kennel.
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