Jaguars’ Malik Jackson Pays Adoption Fee for 181 Pets

Jacksonville, FL – This past weekend (5/6 & 5/7) 181 pets found loving homes thanks to the generosity of Malik Jackson of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ foundation, Malik’s Gifts, and PetSmart Charities.

This was one of the largest two-day adoption events in Jacksonville’s history! Pets from the Jacksonville Humane Society (JHS) and Jacksonville Animal Care & Protective Services (ACPS) were available for adoption in two local PetSmart stores, and at JHS. Malik’s Gifts, a foundation run by NFL Jacksonville Jaguars player Malik Jackson, generously sponsored all adoption fees for the weekend and PetSmart Charities provided the locations and funds to help make the event possible. The timing could not have been better as shelters in Jacksonville were full.

To make an already great weekend even better, Malik Jackson also made a personal visit to JHS to meet adopters and fans. Malik signed autographs, took pictures with fans, staff and volunteers, and talked about the importance of fostering and adopting. His fans were not only thrilled to meet him, but also to say thank you for his generous support of JHS! One adopter told us that because she had not had to pay an adoption fee, she was able to go to PetSmart and buy all kinds of supplies to spoil her new addition.

One of our favorite stories from the weekend is about a cat named Devan. Devan is a senior citizen cat who had Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, a slow acting virus that makes him more susceptible to various secondary infections. He also had scars on his facing giving him a pirate-like charm. Although he was sweet, and outgoing, those scars and his FIV diagnosis made adopters overlook him, so Devan had been with JHS for quite a while. Well, on Sunday morning, that all changed. Hearing about the free adoptions, his new Mom checked out the JHS website. She had been looking for a cat, and when she saw Devan’s picture, she knew he was THE one. She made sure she was the very first person in line at PetSmart on Sunday morning to adopt this special boy.

Also adopted was Prince, one of our dogs who had been at JHS longer than others. In addition to needing a home without other pets, Prince needed to find a family who was willing to maintain his arthritis treatment. Prince’s luck changed when his new mom saw him sitting in his kennel! She was thrilled to adopt him and have a chance to say thank you to Malik in person.

JHS is so very grateful to Malik’s Gifts and PetSmart Charities for their generous support. There are 181 more happy families today thanks to your support! Generosity breeds joy!

If you’d like to follow in Malik’s powerhouse footsteps, click here and make a gift to help us save the lives of more than 5,000 cats and dogs.