Florida State Animal Response Coalition

09/03/2026

To reach the FL SARC Manager please email [email protected]

09/02/2026

We have 15 Free Spay or Neuter surgeries for owned backyard cats at SPCA Florida in Lakeland

🐾 BACKYARD CATS: IT’S TIME TO FIX THE SITUATION! 🐾

Starting September 1, SPCA Florida is offering FREE spay and neuter surgeries for backyard cats! 🎉 The promotion also includes ear tipping, rabies vaccine, and pain medications.

We’re helping community members make a difference for cats living outdoors—and we’re kicking things off with 15 FREE surgeries every day of the promotion while funding lasts.

# # # 🐱 Here’s the deal:

⏰ 7:00–7:30 a.m.
👀 First 15 patients only
🚫 No appointment necessary
🪤 Cat must be a backyard cat and arrive in a humane trap
💰 FREE spay/neuter while funds last

Spaying and neutering is one of the most important things we can do to help reduce the number of unwanted kittens entering our community. One unaltered cat can contribute to a surprisingly large number of kittens over time. By spaying and neutering backyard cats, we can help prevent future litters, reduce overcrowding, and improve the health and well-being of community cats. ❤️

If you care for a backyard cat, this is your chance to make a difference!

Thank you for your interest in animal welfare and for helping us build a healthier, happier community for cats and the people who care about them. 🐾💙

Starts September 1. First come, first served. While funds last.

09/02/2026

The Florida State Animal Response Coalition (Florida SARC) is hosting its Level 1 Small Animal Emergency Sheltering Awareness Course live via Zoom.

Dates: Saturday & Sunday, September 12–13, 2026
Time: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM Eastern each evening
Format: Live, instructor-led via Zoom

This foundational course introduces the fundamentals of operating and supporting a temporary emergency animal shelter during disasters. Topics covered include:

- Basic ICS and its application to animal sheltering
- Animal behavior identification and daily care
- Disease and parasites
-Sanitation
- Responder safety, deployment, and demobilization
- Working within an organized disaster response

This training is valuable for animal shelter and rescue staff, kennel and animal care teams, CERT members, emergency management partners, volunteers, and anyone interested in helping animals during disasters.

Space is limited. You can register today at https://www.flsarc.org/training-classes-events?pgid=m9a3x96e-141496f5-2a69-485e-a144-1636c6940eb4

09/01/2026

Free rabies vaccines in North Florida!!

Starting September 1st through September 30th we will be offering free rabies vaccines for all cats and dogs!

We kindly ask that you only bring 4 pets at a time to help keep wait times at a minimum and keep everything moving as smoothly as possible!

Because of this event, our wait times may be longer than typical. Thank you for understanding!

09/01/2026

TROPICAL UPDATE TROPICAL STORM EDOUARD

The system in the northern Gulf has strengthened, and the National Hurricane Center has officially designated it Tropical Storm Edouard. Will be Hurricane most likely by tomorrow.

As of the 7:00 PM CDT advisory Monday evening

Location is about 140 miles southeast of Cameron Louisiana
Maximum sustained winds: 40 mph
Moveing west-northwest at 6 mph

The National Hurricane Center expects additional strengthening before Edouard reaches the northwestern Gulf Coast on Tuesday.

FLORIDA SARC is monitoring Edouard and the tropics.
Although Edouard is currently focused on the northwestern Gulf Coast, this is another reminder that we are entering the heart of hurricane season. Now is the time to make sure both your family and your pets are prepared.

Take a few minutes to check:
Pet food, treats and water
Medications and Vet records
Update microchip information
Vaccination records
Collars, leashes and identification
Carriers or crates
Recent photos of your pets

Know where to go.. Friends and Family or an evacuation shelter/hotel

📲 Continue to follow official channels of the National Hurricane Center and your check you local emergency management office website.

Remember..
Because the Entire family matters!

08/29/2026

Thank you to all who attended the Ziggy's Haven Bird Sanctuary, Inc sponsored Awareness Course today!! .

08/29/2026

We are in Citrus County Today!!

Florida SARC is excited to be in Citrus County today for our Small Animal Emergency Sheltering Awareness Course, proudly sponsored by ’s Haven Bird Sanctuary

Today’s course provides participants with the knowledge needed to support small animal sheltering during emergencies and other large-scale hoarding and cruelty cases.
From understanding how emergency animal shelters fit into the larger incident response structure to animal care, safety, documentation, shelter operations, and responder responsibilities, this training helps communities build capability before an emergency happens.

A huge THANK YOU to Ziggy's Haven Bird Sanctuary, Inc for sponsoring today’s training and investing in disaster preparedness for Citrus County and the animals who call this community home. ❤️🐶🐱🦜 ziggyshaven .com

Want to bring Florida SARC's training to your community, shelter or rescue? [email protected]

FLSARC .org to find upcoming training opportunities.

08/24/2026

This Saturday's class with Ziggy's Haven Bird Sanctuary, Inc is full but make sure to sign up for online instructor let's zoom class. We also are going to have an opportunity in Jacksonville and fort Myers Florida coming soon!

08/24/2026

🌀 TROPICAL UPDATE — DISTURBANCE 2

Florida SARC is continuing to monitor Disturbance 2 as we move through the active portion of hurricane season.

At this stage, an area being identified by the National Hurricane Center does not mean that a storm will develop or that Florida will be impacted. It does mean this is a good time to stay aware and make sure your household — including your pets — is prepared.

🐾 Take a few minutes today to check your pet preparedness supplies:

• Food and water
• Medications and veterinary information
• Leashes, collars and identification
• Carriers or crates
• Vaccination records
• Recent photos of your pets
• A plan for where you will go if evacuation becomes necessary

🚨 FLORIDA SARC RESPONDERS

While there is no deployment or activation at this time, we are asking responders to begin looking ahead approximately 7 days from today and consider your potential availability should conditions change and a request for assistance be received.

Now is the time to begin making preliminary arrangements with your family, employer, pet sitter, or others who may need to know if you become available for deployment.

Please also make a moment to make sure your personal preparedness plans are in place and that your responder information, required documentation, and deployment gear are ready.

Do not self-deploy. Any potential mission information or official availability requests will be communicated directly through Florida SARC.

Florida SARC will continue monitoring the tropics and sharing information as conditions develop.

Preparedness starts long before there is a storm at our doorstep. 🐾🌀

08/21/2026

🐾 HELP SPCA FLORIDA WIN UP TO $10,000! 🐾

Did you know that the Florida State Animal Response Coalition (FL SARC) is a program of SPCA Florida? Now we need your help supporting the shelter that supports our mission!

SPCA Florida is in the 2026 People’s Choice Wagsies Awards, celebrating the incredible work animal shelters do every day for pets and the communities they serve. ❤️

Your vote could help SPCA Florida receive up to $10,000 in financial support from Hill’s Pet Nutrition — funding that can make a real difference for animals in need.

🗳️ And you can vote EVERY 24 HOURS!

Watch the videos, vote for your favorite in each category, and then come back tomorrow and do it again!

Every vote is an opportunity to support FLORIDA SARC and SPCA Florida and the lifesaving work happening for animals throughout our community.

https://www.hillspet.com/wagsies-awards?fbclid=IwcGRvZgFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE4YkNIQzduUllWV0VFbkt5c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHrnnJpR4dIqtphniJE1SwQXOZX-_MdXao4kGSJLag9_HGVZjGJBXTsymkE3S_aem_6yeCDDcfo_vr-TLnY_n6qw

🏆 Winners will be announced the week of October 26.

Help us spread the word! Vote, share this post, and remind your friends to vote every 24 hours.

🐶🐱 Together, we can help bring a Wagsies win home to SPCA Florida!

Check out the 2026 dog & cat nominees for the People’s Choice Wagsies Awards, brought to you by Hill’s & The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement.