The Edwin E. and Lillian H. Bishop Animal Shelter SPCA of Manatee County is a private nonprofit which aims to prevent cruelty to animals and relieve their suffering. It takes in strays or pets that can no longer be cared for by their owners and offers these dogs and cats for adoption.
All pets up for adoption have been checked by a vet, spayed or neutered and given all their shots and can be taken home for a $60 fee (which goes toward the care of the animals at the shelter). At any given time, there are about 30 dogs and 80 cats waiting for a loving home. You can find photos and profiles of each potential adoptee by searching Petfinder.com or visiting the shelter's website.
Visitors to Bishop can also find educational brochures and emergency window cling stickers for their animals. The shelter was founded in 1958 and has 17 employees on staff. It welcomes donations of clean towels, blankets and toys for the animals, and invites the public (and their dogs) to attend its annual Canine Christmas fund-raiser each year for food, fun, prizes, crafts, raffles and a visit from Santa himself.
A non-profit organization runs this Pet Pal Veterinary Clinic, as well as a nearby animal shelter. Its mission is to improve the lot of stray dogs and cats by providing a no-kill animal shelter and affordable veterinary care. Doctor John Mead sees pets by appointment. Low-cost spay/neuter operations are a specialty.
