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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

Clear the Shelters Adoption Special Aug. 20-24
Aug 19, 2025
Friends of Strays has joined NBCUniversal Local’s 11th annual Clear The Shelters pet adoption campaign scheduled for Aug. 1 to 31, culminating for our shelter in an adoption special this week...

Friends of Strays speaks out on puppy stores in Pinellas
Aug 1, 2025
Friends of Strays was devastated to learn about the conditions innocent puppies were forced to endure at Blue Sky Puppies, whose pet dealer permit wasrevoked by Pinellas County for an...

Shelter closures: first Tuesday of the month
Jul 29, 2025
Moving forward, Friends of Strays will be closed the first Tuesday of each month for staff meetings and deep clean days. Friends of Strays will be closed: Aug. 5, Sept. 2, Oct. 7, Nov. 4,...
Stray Thoughts

Babe's Story: Planning Ahead for the Pets We Love
Aug 19, 2025
Grief doesn’t always look like sadness. Sometimes, it looks like hissing. Like swatting. Like lashing out. Babe spent most of her life with the same person—and she adored her owner....

Prepare now for July 4 pet safety
Jun 30, 2025
While many people may enjoy the excitement and thrill of watching a fireworks show, for pets it can be very scary and traumatic. More pets are reported missing after July 4 than any other holiday....