Animal Care & Protective Services

Animal Care & Protective Services Our mission is to take the lead in cultivating a community rooted in compassion and service that safeguards the wellbeing of humans & animals alike.
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We're dedicated to exemplifying and fostering compassion, reliability, and responsibility in Jacksonville. Animal Care & Protective Services is the City of Jacksonville's animal shelter. Monday - Saturday we receive anywhere from 50-100 dogs/cats per day. These animals are found stray, owner surrendered or saved from animal abuse situations. Please go to www.coj.net/pets to look at all of our lost

dogs and cats that we have. Please consider adopting a dog and/or cat from Animal Care & Protective Services. All of them need homes.

09/03/2026

🥓 Did someone order TWO sides of bacon?! 🥓

Here we have Ofc. Bacon with precious Little Bacon Boy…can you say ✨️ TWINNING ✨️

Little Bacon Boy is understandably shy at first, but warms up quickly.
(Don’t worry, no grease popping here 😂)

He walks exceptionally well on leash and is incredibly gentle and well-mannered. 💕

He was previously known as “Bacon Bit,” but one of our officers discovered that he LOVES being called “Little Bacon Boy”—say it and he goes full-on wiggle mode. 🥹

He’s cute. He’s crispy. He’s a savory treat.

But we have just one question…

🥓 WHO’S READY TO TAKE HOME THE BACON?! 🥓
(Not Ofc. Bacon. Sorry, he’s not available for adoption 😅 )

Come meet Little Bacon Boy at:
📍 2020 Forest St, Jacksonville, FL 32204
⏰ Open 7 days a week | 12 PM–7 PM

Right now we are waiving all adoption fees for the next 10 days!
(*Duval County residents will pay a $20 license fee*)

Join us tomorrow for a LifeSouth blood drive!Roll up your sleeve and help save lives🩸❤️ All donors will receive a team t...
09/03/2026

Join us tomorrow for a LifeSouth blood drive!

Roll up your sleeve and help save lives🩸❤️

All donors will receive a team t-shirt,
plus platelet and double red cell donors will receive a $40 e-gift card!

Sign up here: https://buff.ly/CMwTWax

🗓️ Thursday, September 4th | ⏰ 11 AM–5 PM
📍 Animal Care & Protective Services

See ya there!

Summer may be over, but the Florida sun clearly didn’t get the memo...Cool down with Gelato!Gelato (A1443977) is a 3-yea...
09/02/2026

Summer may be over, but the Florida sun clearly didn’t get the memo...
Cool down with Gelato!

Gelato (A1443977) is a 3-year-old sweet girl who’s full of life, always ready for an adventure, and VERY serious about her favorite pastime: FETCH 🎾
Throw the ball. She brings it back. Throw it again. Repeat until one of you gives up. Spoiler alert: it probably won’t be Gelato. 😂

Gelato is one smart scoop who already knows sit, come, leave it, and fetch.
She does well being crated and has experience living with both cats and children.

She’s playful, adventurous, treat-motivated, and ready to trade shelter life for a family who will keep the good times rolling. 💕

Skip the ice cream shop and come get yourself a scoop of Gelato instead. 🍦🐾

📍 2020 Forest St., Jacksonville, FL 32204
⏰ Open 7 days a week, 12–7 PM

On Sunday, September 6th, we will be closing one hour early.(12:00 pm - 6:00 pm)Normal business hours will resume the fo...
09/02/2026

On Sunday, September 6th, we will be closing one hour early.
(12:00 pm - 6:00 pm)

Normal business hours will resume the following day.

💕

09/01/2026

✨️ One Dog A-Day: The Infamous Sprinkle✨️

If there’s one thing Sprinkle wants in this world, it’s to be loved. 💕

This beautiful girl is the type to wait patiently by the door for her person, favorite toy in her mouth, tail wagging, ready to greet you like you’re the best thing she’s seen all day.

Sprinkle has found herself in and out of the shelter through no fault of her own. Unfortunately, shelter life is especially hard on her, and the stress of being in a kennel quickly takes its toll.

Right now, Sprinkle is living the office-dog life, where the quieter environment has helped her immensely. But an office isn’t a home—and this sweet girl deserves a place where she can finally settle in and know she’s HOME for good.

Anyone who has interacted with Sprinkle will tell you that she is truly an all-around perfect dog. I mean…just look at her 🥹

Sprinkle has spent enough time waiting.
Maybe the person she’s been waiting for is you. ✨️

Ready to meet her?
We are open 7 days a week from 12pm - 7pm.

Jacksonville, you really showed up in a BIG way this past weekend! 👏❤️Here’s just a glimpse of some of the Happy Tails t...
08/31/2026

Jacksonville, you really showed up in a BIG way this past weekend! 👏❤️

Here’s just a glimpse of some of the Happy Tails that found their way HOME. 🏡🐾
And while we’re celebrating these faces, there are still plenty more waiting for their turn.

So…who’s next? 👀

📍 2020 Forest St., Jacksonville, FL 32204
⏰ Open 7 days a week | 12 PM–7 PM

Where do we even start with Emberlynn? Maybe with her smile — because it’s one of those smiles that tells you everything...
08/31/2026

Where do we even start with Emberlynn?

Maybe with her smile — because it’s one of those smiles that tells you everything you need to know about her.

Emberlynn is just over a year old, and she is every bit as gentle and loving as she looks. She walks exceptionally well on leash, happily accepts treats, and if you happen to be within kissing distance…consider yourself warned. She has plenty to give. 🥹

Since arriving at the shelter in May, Emberlynn has been working through fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS). The shelter can be a lot for a young dog to take in, but with the support of our staff and volunteers, she’s finding her footing a little more each day.
And with every bit of confidence she gains, we get to see a little more of Emberlynn.

Last week, she spent some time behind the front desk with our adoption team — and she completely shined.

In a quieter space, we got an even bigger glimpse of her personality: affectionate, easygoing, incredibly sweet, and happiest just being close to people.

Emberlynn has so much ahead of her, and we’re already seeing more of her personality come through every day.

She’s ready for everything that comes next — neighborhood walks, plenty of treats, endless kisses, and a family to share that beautiful smile with. ❤️

Emberlynn is ready to reach beyond these shelter walls and into her next adventure...Maybe it starts with you.

✨️ Interested in adopting or fostering this sweet girl?
We are open 7 days a week from 12pm to 7pm.
📍 2020 Forest St, 32204

08/30/2026

📣📣📣 guess what: the fun’s not over!! We had the best time yesterday helping ✨ 62 ✨ pets find loving families that we want to do it all over again! We’re extending our adoption special, and adoption fees will be WAIVED all day today, August 30th, at 2020 Forest Street. See you soon!

📍Animal Care and Protective Services
⏰ 12:00-7:00

08/29/2026

When we posted about Mango earlier this week, we simply wanted to tell her story. The more people who read about her, fell in love with the pics of her goofy grin, and shared her post, the better—and hopefully, a patient family willing to give her time to adjust and decompress would come along to meet her.

Well, the story WORKED. Mango’s AMAZING new family saw her post and immediately came to our event to meet her this afternoon! They fell in love with this sensitive pup and are already giving her the safe, loving start to the rest of her life that she deserves. ❤️

Sharing stories is everything when it comes to shelter animals finding homes. Every single like, comment, and share means that dogs like Mango, overlooked time and time again, might land on the phone screen of the perfect person for them. And for longtimers like Mango, every single person who shares those stories plays a crucial part in getting them home. So THANK YOU!

PS: 62!! animals found loving homes today! Thank you to EVERY SINGLE adopter and foster—more pics and videos to come! And if you didn’t make it down today, we’re also offering free adoptions tomorrow 💓💓

Address

2020 Forest Street
Jacksonville, FL
32204

Opening Hours

Monday 12pm - 7pm
Tuesday 12pm - 7pm
Wednesday 12pm - 7pm
Thursday 12pm - 7pm
Friday 12pm - 7pm
Saturday 12am - 7pm
Sunday 12am - 7pm

Telephone

+19046302489

Website

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