Animals Go Free at 'Empty the Shelter' Event

Is a new four-legged family member on your holiday wish list? This Saturday, you can bring home a new best friend for free—and save a life.

Pasco County Animal Services will host its first-ever Empty the Shelter event from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22 at the shelter in Land O' Lakes.

Adoptable cats and dogs ready to go home for the holidays will be available for free during the event, which also will feature a visit from Santa.

Regular adoption fees are $70 for dogs and $40 for cats, but those fees will be waived for animals ready to leave the shelter that day, according to a press release.

"We should have 50-plus dogs and cats ready to leave the shelter on Saturday," animal services education coordinator Judy Gregory said.

The adoption special is part of the county's efforts to save 90 percent of the animals who arrive at the shelter.

"We are working toward a 90 percent save goal and emptying the shelter will help us for the month of December," Gregory said.

Regular hours at the shelter are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from noon to 4:30 p.m. and Thursdays from noon until 6:30 p.m. The shelter is located at 19640 Dogpatch Lane in Land O' Lakes. For more information, call 813-929-1212.

Would you make the drive from New Port Richey to Land O' Lakes to get a pet for free?