Some people walk into a shelter just to look. Then one dog leans against the cage, or a kitten reaches a paw through the bars, and the plan changes.
If you’ve been quietly thinking about adding a pet to your home, this weekend is a good time to stop thinking and go meet them.
What’s Happening This Weekend
Bulloch County Animal Services will have its adoptable pets ready to meet on Saturday, November 7, and Sunday, November 8, from noon to 3 pm.
The shelter is at 81 Mill Creek Road in Statesboro. The event is part of Petco Love’s national adoption weekend, tied to the new Cat in the Hat movie.
One thing people often miss: this happens at the county shelter, not at a Petco store. Several kittens will be there too.
What It Costs and What You Need
This isn’t a free-adoption weekend. According to Grice Connect’s report on the event, the regular fees apply: $50 for a dog and $30 for a cat.
Bring a valid state ID, and you must be 18 or older. The pets come vaccinated and spayed or neutered. If one isn’t fixed yet, it comes with a voucher for a free surgery.
Go with a few questions ready. Ask about energy level, how the pet does with kids, and whether it’s okay with other animals. A good match matters more than a quick one.
If you want to check anything first, call the shelter at 912-764-4529.
The First Three Days Matter More Than the First Hour
Taking the pet home is the easy part. The first few days are where adopters get surprised.
Shelter dogs often need about three days to decompress, three weeks to learn your routine, and three months to feel fully at home. Give a dog a quiet corner, keep the same food the shelter used, and let them come to you.
New cats do best in one quiet room for the first week, with a vet visit in that week too.
If this is your first dog, our list of things every first-time dog owner should know before day one is a good place to start.
Have you adopted from a shelter before? Tell me in the comments what you wish you’d known on day one.
Why This Matters
Shelters across the country are under real pressure. Shelter Animals Count’s 2026 mid-year report found that 3.7 million cats and dogs entered shelters and rescues in the first half of the year.
About 213,000 more animals came in than left, and adult dogs make up 66% of the dogs still waiting for a home.
The same pressure shows up in Florida, where Hillsborough County’s pet resource center had 320 dogs and asked Tampa residents to come adopt.
Cat adoptions did reach 1 million, which shows what happens when people actually show up.
Before You Go
If you can’t adopt right now, you can still help. Share the shelter’s posts, volunteer to walk a dog, or donate supplies. It all counts.
For more adoption stories and practical pet-care tips, visit Furry Found, and follow us on X and Facebook so you don’t miss the next one.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Event details and fees may change, so please confirm with Bulloch County Animal Services before you visit.