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St. Johns County Pet Center

February 2026 Newsletter

Long Term Furry Resident

Lucy

Lucy is a beautiful 5-year-old German Shepherd with a gentle spirit and a heart full of love. Calm and affectionate, she’s the kind of dog who’s happiest simply being near her people—whether that’s lounging at your feet or enjoying a quiet walk by your side. Lucy’s sweet nature makes her a wonderful companion for a peaceful home, and her soulful eyes will melt your heart. She’s ready to find a family who will cherish her as much as she’ll adore them. If you're looking for a loyal friend with a calm demeanor and endless love to give, Lucy is waiting to meet you!

Adoption Information:

- Spayed/ Neutered: Yes

- Vaccinated: Up-to-date

- Adoption fees: Fee waved for Lucy!

Dogs $60.00, Cats $40.00

How to Meet:

Visit the Pet Center during our adoption hours, Tuesday- Saturday 9am- 4pm, to spend some time with them. Your love and care could be the missing piece in their journey to a happy, forever home.

Adopt a shelter pet and be a part of their extraordinary journey towards a brighter future!

Cats are also Available at:

Pet Supermarket

1020 S Ponce de Leon Blvd

St. Augustine, FL 32086

PetSmart

1779 U.S. 1

St. Augustine, FL 32084

Love is in the Air... and So Are Wagging Tails!

Valentine's Day Pet Safety & Adoption Fun

Valentine’s Day is all about hearts, hugs, and sweet surprises but before you share the love, let’s make sure your furry Valentine stays safe and happy! While we humans enjoy chocolates and flowers, our pets prefer belly rubs and treats made just for them.

Stop & Smell the Roses… From Afar

Pretty flowers can be tempting, but some blooms especially lilies are a big no-no for pets. Keep bouquets out of reach or choose pet-safe flowers so your furry friend doesn’t turn Valentine’s Day into an emergency visit.

Chocolate = No Love for Pets

We know those heart-shaped chocolates are hard to resist, but they’re dangerous for pets. Chocolate and xylitol (found in many candies) can make pets very sick. Stick to pet-approved treats instead. Your Valentine will still think you’re amazing!

Candles, Cords & Curiosity

Romantic lighting is lovely… until a curious tail knocks over a candle! Keep flames, ribbons, balloons, and decorations safely tucked away to avoid any “ruff” situations.

Gifts Aren’t Always Pet-Approved

Medications, essential oils, and gift wrap can look like toys but spell trouble. Store gifts securely and clean up wrapping paper before it becomes a chew toy.

Looking for True Love? Adopt!

This Valentine’s Day, skip the dating apps and head to your local shelter. Your soulmate might be waiting with paws crossed and tail wagging! Shelter pets are full of love, ready for cuddles, and experts at stealing hearts.

When you adopt, you’re giving a homeless pet the best gift of all: a forever home. In return, you’ll get unconditional love, happy greetings, and a best friend who thinks you’re the greatest human on Earth.

Fall in love fur-ever this Valentine’s Day. Adopt. Don’t shop.

Field Services

Dog Bite Prevention: A Community Reminder

During the month of January, there have been 62 reported dog bites in our community. This number is a strong reminder of how important dog bite prevention is for everyone, pet owners, families, and neighbors alike.

Most dog bites are preventable. Dogs often bite out of fear, stress, pain, or misunderstanding. Learning how to safely interact with dogs and recognizing warning signs can make a big difference.

Tips to Help Prevent Dog Bites

Always ask before approaching a dog. Never assume a dog is friendly, even if they look calm.

Supervise children closely. Teach kids not to hug, climb on, or disturb dogs while they’re eating, sleeping, or caring for puppies.

Read dog body language. Growling, stiff posture, pinned-back ears, or showing teeth are signs a dog needs space.

Spay and neuter pets. This can reduce aggressive behaviors.

Socialize and train dogs early. Proper training helps dogs feel confident and respond appropriately in new situations.

Secure your dog. Use leashes, fences, and proper containment to prevent unexpected encounters.

By working together and practicing responsible pet ownership, we can reduce dog bites and keep both people and pets safe. Let’s make awareness and prevention a priority as we move forward into the year.

Library Loudmouths & Feline Fun at Bartram Trail Library

Our recent event at the Bartram Trail Library was anything but quiet and that’s exactly how we like it! Our shelter cats truly put on a show, captivating visitors with their charm, curiosity, and plenty of personality.

The highlight of the day? Hobbes and Calvin, who absolutely talked up a storm. Their enthusiastic meowing echoed through the space, drawing laughs, smiles, and more than a few chuckles from the crowd. Whether they were sharing their opinions, asking for attention, or simply enjoying being the center of it all, these two made sure everyone knew they had something important to say!

Guests enjoyed watching the cats explore, lounge, and interact, proving once again that shelter pets are full of life, love, and entertainment. Events like this help our cats shine outside the shelter walls and give the community a chance to meet them in a relaxed, fun setting.

A big thank-you to Bartram Trail Library for hosting us and to everyone who stopped by to enjoy the show. Our cats loved the attention, and we can’t wait for the next page in their adoption stories!

A Paws-itively Perfect Adoption Day at Petco!

Our recent Petco adoption event was one for the books and our hearts are still smiling! We’re thrilled to share that all six of our shelter stars found their forever homes, including five adorable puppies and one very special coonhound mix named Duke.

From the moment the event began, tails were wagging, and puppies were soaking up all the love and attention. Each pup showed off their playful personalities, while Duke charmed everyone he met with his gentle nature and soulful hound eyes. It didn’t take long for families to fall in love and one by one, adoption papers were signed!

Seeing every single dog head home with their new families is exactly why these events mean so much to us. A huge thank-you to Petco, our dedicated staff, volunteers, and of course the amazing adopters who opened their hearts and homes.

Congratulations to the puppies and Duke on their happily-ever-afters! Stay tuned for more adoption events. You never know when you might meet your perfect match.

Say Cheese…Jags Style!

Brooke Stacey Photography was back behind the lens, and our shelter pets were ready for their close-ups. This time with a bold twist of hometown pride! Decked out in Jacksonville Jaguars attire, our furry residents struck their best poses to cheer on the Jags and capture a little game-day spirit.

From wagging tails to curious head tilts, each pet soaked up the attention and showed off their unique personalities. The teal jerseys, Jags necklaces, and big smiles were made for photos that were equal parts adorable and spirited. Brooke’s talent truly shines in moments like these, turning playful energy into frame-worthy memories that help our pets put their best paw forward.

A huge thank you to Brooke Stacey Photography for once again donating time and creativity to spotlight our shelter stars. These photos don’t just celebrate our local team; they help our pets get noticed and are one step closer to finding their forever homes.

Prince Steals the Spotlight at the St. Augustine Aquarium Adoption Event

Prince made a royal appearance at the St. Augustine Aquarium adoption event, and it’s safe to say he ruled the day! From the moment he arrived, Prince soaked up the attention especially the endless belly rubs from delighted guests.

Never one to shy away from the spotlight, Prince posed for photos with a fun shark prop, proving that even underwater predators can’t steal his thunder. His charm and playful personality made everyone smile as he mingled with visitors, entertained families, and showed off just how lovable shelter pets can be.

Events like these help our animals shine outside the shelter, and Prince did exactly that winning hearts, spreading joy, and reminding everyone that their next best friend might just be waiting to be discovered. Thank you to the St. Augustine Aquarium and all who came out to make this event a splash!

Trails & Tails: Karma Hits the Trail!

Fresh air, wagging tails, and happy hearts made our Trails & Tails event a paws-itively wonderful day! Our shelter pup Karma traded kennel time for trail time and headed out on a scenic hike with a few amazing volunteers, and she soaked up every moment of it.

With her leash on and nose to the ground, Karma explored nature like a pro. From sniffing new scents to enjoying the sights and sounds of the trail, she was all smiles (and tail wags!). The hike gave Karma a chance to stretch her legs, build confidence, and show off her sweet, adventurous personality.

Events like Trails & Tails are more than just a fun outing, they’re incredibly enriching for our shelter dogs. Time outside helps reduce stress, provides mental and physical stimulation, and allows dogs like Karma to shine in a real-world setting. Plus, it’s a great reminder of just how wonderful these dogs are as hiking buddies and companions.

A big thank you to our dedicated volunteers who made this special day possible. Because of you, Karma enjoyed a day filled with love, exercise, nature and memories that will last far longer than muddy paws.

Who knows? Karma may have just shown her future family that she’s the perfect trail partner waiting to be adopted.

Southeast Branch Library Event: Paws, Pages, and Plenty of Smiles

The Southeast Branch Library turned into a mini pet meet-and-greet when four fabulous cats and two delightful dogs stopped by to entertain guests during our recent adoption event. Between wagging tails, curious whiskers, and plenty of head tilts, our furry ambassadors had no trouble stealing the spotlight.

Visitors of all ages stopped in to say hello, ask questions, and spend time getting to know the animals. The cats lounged, observed, and accepted admiration like pros, while the dogs happily soaked up attention and showed off their friendly personalities. It was a calm, cozy setting, perfect for slow introductions and meaningful conversations about adoption.

While no adoptions took place that day, the event was still a big win. We loved seeing so many community members stop by, connect with our shelter pets, and express interest in giving adoption some thoughtful consideration. Every visit, every question, and every shared moment helps bring our animals one step closer to finding their forever homes.

A big thank-you to the Southeast Branch Library for welcoming us and helping create a space where books, animals, and community came together.

Thank You to Creekside High School’s National Art Honor Society

We would like to extend a huge thank you to the incredible National Honor Society students from Creekside High School for their creativity, generosity, and hard work. As part of their project, these talented students painted beautiful portraits of some of our adopted pets, each one thoughtfully created and gifted to the pets’ adopters.

These portraits are more than just artwork; they are meaningful keepsakes that celebrate the special bond between pets and their families. The students captured each pet’s unique personality so perfectly, and the smiles on the adopters’ faces said it all.

We are so grateful to the Creekside High School National Honor Society for choosing to support our mission in such a creative and heartfelt way. Your kindness, talent, and dedication made a lasting impact on our community and helped make adoption even more memorable for our families.

Thank you for using your skills to spread joy and for showing what compassion and service truly look like.