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Friends of Strays Animal Shelter is St. Petersburg’s oldest no kill animal shelter. Founded in 1978, our top priority is to connect animals in need of rescue with people who will love them. With thousands of cats and dogs entering our shelter every year, Friends of Strays’ staff and volunteers provide the utmost love and care for every animal that comes through our doors.
Through our outreach, advocacy, and services we strive to ensure that animal companionship is accessible to all. In addition to pet adoption, we seek to create a better world for pets and people by focusing on life saving programs promoting pet retention, community empowerment, and humane pet ownership education.
Friends of Strays receives no government funding, and our lifesaving success is only possible by the support of friends like you. Please consider an individual, business or planned giving gift to provide compassionate care to pets and the people who love them. We realize that our efforts on behalf of the animals would not be possible without you by our side.
You help us make a difference in their lives.
The Latest
December 2024 Shelter and Self-Trapping Closures
Dec 9, 2024
Please make note of the following closures in relation to the upcoming holidays:Shelter closures: Friends of Strays will close early on Tuesday, Dec. 17. Our hours that day will be 10 a.m. to 3...
Cat Box Reopening and Adopt Local Weekend!
Nov 25, 2024
Our new building was damaged during Hurricane Milton and we had to shut it down. But, we are SO excited to announce that our Cat Box Adoption Center will reopen this weekend, Friday, Nov. 29!...
November 2024 shelter, self-trapping closures
Nov 4, 2024
Friends of Strays will be closed on the following days this month: • Monday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veteran's Day• Thursday, Nov. 28, in observance of Thanksgiving DayIntake for our...
Stray Thoughts
TNVR in Pinellas County
Oct 21, 2024
Cathy Unruh is a board member of Friends of Strays. Cathy got to know our organization when we performed surgeries for the TNVR non-profit she co-founded, MEOW Now – which has since merged...
Navigating Rental Agreements When Owning a Pet
Sep 11, 2024
Friends of Strays is fortunate to have supporters from all kinds of backgrounds. Eve Epstein-Ortiz is a member of the Board of Directors, and an attorney in the Tampa Bay area. Navigating pet...