Jessica Saggio

FLORIDA TODAY

When Apache was found by a law enforcement officer, he was starving to death.

His ribs were showing, he was lying in a pile of his own waste and his little body was about three times smaller than it should have been. He weighed in at a mere 38 pounds when he was discovered and brought to the Brevard County Sheriff Animal Services shelter in Melbourne. The large mixed breed now weighs 63 pounds and still is expected to grow. Apache is a ham, handlers say, and has never been anything less than friendly.

Then there’s Max, a terrier mix that hit his 300th day at the SPCA North Brevard shelter Friday. He’s been there the longest, and that doesn’t include stints he has spent in other shelters. He has stage 1 cancer, but he’s quick as a whip, playful and doctors say his life won’t be impacted. He’s just had some bad luck, said Veronica LaVista, who heads educational outreach for the SPCA shelter, and he has a lot working against him. He’s a mixed breed, for one, which often has a bad connotation, he’s pushing nine years old and he has medical issues. Not to mention, he was returned after being adopted — but for no fault of his own. It was a family issue.

These are just two examples of hundreds of animals that need homes across Brevard. Between just the Sheriff’s Animal Services shelters and the SPCA there are 179 dogs and 221 cats up for adoption. Factor in the Brevard Humane Society, and tack on another 137 pets up for adoption. The Humane Society’s figure includes other animals up for adoption, such as horses, rabbits, rats and other critters.

But for those even tinkering with the idea of a new furry friend, this is the month to act, said Sheriff Wayne Ivey, who took over the county’s animal services in 2014.

With St. Patrick’s Day looming in the near future, now is the perfect chance for these pups to hit some luck. This month, it’s completely free to adopt a pet from one of the county animal shelters — and there are two: one in North Brevard near the Arthur Dunn Air Park and one in South Brevard, west of I95 on Eau Gallie Boulevard. There are 68 dogs and 53 cats to choose from between both shelters. However, a majority of the pets are housed at the South Brevard shelter because it has higher foot traffic, said Joe Hellebrand, who heads the animal services department.

Although Ivey said his shelters are moving toward a completely “no-kill” status, euthanization does still happen. Currently, the “live release rate,” or rate for the number of animals not euthanized, for the county shelters is at 81 percent — which is almost double what it was in 2010. So far this year, monthly live release rates show the county shelter has hit the 95 percent mark, which qualifies it at “no kill” status if that trend continues. The ultimate goal, said Hellebrand, is to “reduce intake and increase live release.”

Because the shelter is an “open admission” facility, any dog or cat can be admitted to these county facilities.

“If our enforcement officers find a stray dog, it’s coming,” said Hellebrand. “... We have lots of options, and the easiest way (to handle intake) is to euthanize but we don’t believe in that.”

Those who find a pup they like can test an animal before they fully adopt, too. The county runs a “PJ Pup” program where a dog can be taken home for up to seven day to see if the pet meshes with the household. Cats are not part of this program.

Outside of picking up a pup from one of the county shelters, there are several local organizations hoping to match residents with a new best friend.

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The Brevard County Humane Society is also offering a promotion this month. Those who wish to adopt a pet can draw from a hat a coupon on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17). Coupons take anywhere from 10 to 50 percent off the cost of the pet. The Humane Society has more than just dogs and cats, though, said Eileen Cole, media relations for the Brevard Humane Society. The facility off of Cox Road in Cocoa is also a temporary home to four horses, rats, rabbits, birds and other creatures. Pets range in price, said Cole, but the organization is hoping to adopt out its horses in pairs. A single horse costs $800, but if a pair is adopted together, the group will take the best offer for both.

While the SPCA is not running a particular special this month, it’s rare that there isn’t a promotion going on, said LaVista. The group recently finished up an open house at its North Brevard shelter off of Sisson Road in Titusville. However, the most you’ll ever pay at the SPCA is an $80 adoption fee for a dog more than 6 months old or $100 for a dog under 6 months old. Cats, at maximum, cost $60 over 6 months old, or $80 under 6 months. There is also a Hospice program for older dogs like Max, which provides care and medication for the remainder of the dog’s life if a person takes the dog in.

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Fostering opportunities and a host of other programs are also available through the various pet adoption organizations for those who want to help. LaVista said volunteers are always needed at SPCA, and with just a few training courses, they can put you to work with the animals right away.