Santa Rosa County Animal Services Seeks Holiday Foster Homes for Pets
The shelter's "Home for the Pawlidays" program places pets in short-term foster homes over Thanksgiving and Christmas.
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Santa Rosa County Animal Services (SRCAS) is recruiting short-term foster homes for shelter pets over the holidays through its “Home for the Pawlidays” program, according to a county News Flash posted to the county website.
The program has two windows. The Thanksgiving option runs from Nov. 18 to Dec. 3. The Christmas option runs from Dec. 14 to Jan. 4.
Foster parents who decide to keep their pet permanently will have the adoption fee waived, the shelter says.
Interested residents must complete a foster application. Shelter staff review the applications to match each foster with a suitable animal, then contact applicants directly to schedule pick-up and drop-off times. Staff recommend meeting the animal before pick-up. Any pet available for adoption online can be fostered.
The shelter provides everything a foster needs, including food, toys, treats, a harness and a leash. Fosters are asked to take photos and videos of their temporary pet and share feedback on its behavior, likes and dislikes.
According to the county, foster homes give the shelter insight into each animal’s behavior and reduce the number of pets it must care for during the holidays. SRCAS takes in about 3,500 lost, displaced and victimized animals each year.
For more information, call the shelter at 850-983-4680.
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Questions and answers
- How do I foster a pet for Thanksgiving in Santa Rosa County?
- Complete a foster application with Santa Rosa County Animal Services, which runs the "Home for the Pawlidays" program. The Thanksgiving window is Nov. 18 to Dec. 3, 2026. Shelter staff review applications and then contact you to schedule pick-up and drop-off. You can call the shelter at 850-983-4680 for more information.
- Is there an adoption fee if I keep my foster pet in Santa Rosa County?
- No. Foster parents who decide to keep their holiday pet permanently have the adoption fee waived, according to Santa Rosa County Animal Services.