A FLORIDA NO-KILL CAT AND DOG RESCUE
Why So Many Pets Are Losing Their Homes
Our Mission
Across Florida and beyond, shelters are overwhelmed with pets in need. Two major factors are fueling this heartbreaking rise: the wave of adoptions during COVID-19, when many people sought comfort in pets but later surrendered them as life returned to normal, and strict rental restrictions that make it difficult for families to keep their beloved cats and dogs.
These challenges have left countless animals at risk, and they are at the heart of why The Florida Cat and Dog Project exists - to give pets a second chance when circumstances take their first homes away.
*The Florida Cat and Dog Project, Inc is a registered 501(c)3 organization.
Why Choose the Florida Cat and Dog Project?
Small team. Big impact. Real transparency.
From the Co-Founder
We’re a veteran-owned and operated, truly grassroots rescue. Every dollar you give goes straight to animals - not to offices or overhead. We’re the ones up for midnight bottle-feeds, driving medical transports, setting up quarantine, and, yes, doing the paperwork, too. Because we split hands-on care and all the admin (permits, reporting, donor receipts), we don’t have a development team courting major gifts. Some funders mistake “capacity” for credibility, so couple-run rescues like ours can be overlooked. But our results don’t come from a big office; they come from discipline, speed, and community trust.
What your support makes possible
-
Hands-on care for neonates and medical cases - the animals most at risk
-
Rapid response when minutes matter
-
Accountability with clear receipts, vet invoices, and donor updates
-
Local solutions that keep pets out of shelters and in loving homes
If you believe great rescue work isn’t defined by headcount or glossy reports, you’re our kind of person. Your gift fills bowls, covers vet bills, and - most of all - buys time for animals who don’t have it to spare.
The CoVid19 Pandemic
The streets of Florida are overflowing — not with traffic, but with heartbreak.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the combination of skyrocketing rent prices and restrictive housing policies has led to a devastating wave of pet abandonment. In places like the Redlands, dogs are being dumped in groves, along highways, and beside canals with nothing but fear and confusion in their eyes. Cats are left behind in apartment complexes, parks, and vacant lots to multiply in silence. These animals, once cherished members of a family, are now fighting to survive, some tied to trees, some dodging traffic, others simply waiting for someone to come back. But no one comes. It’s a crisis that’s growing by the day, and the burden has fallen on small, overwhelmed rescues trying to pick up the pieces.
But here’s the truth: There are solutions, and you can be part of them. Registering pets as emotional support animals is not only a legal right but a practical pathway to securing housing for you and your companions. Many people don’t realize just how simple it is to claim this protection, and doing so could mean the difference between keeping your beloved pet and abandoning them. The rise in grassroots rescues isn’t accidental, it’s a response to the flood of forgotten animals. These rescues are fueled by love, but love alone isn’t enough. We need awareness. We need compassion. And we need you. Share the message.
Support local rescues. And above all, don’t give up on your pet. They haven’t given up on you!
Rising Rent Costs and Restrictions
Florida’s housing crisis isn’t just displacing people - it’s displacing their pets.
As rent prices soar across the state and pet restrictions tighten in rental communities, families are being forced to make heartbreaking choices. In cities like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and even small towns like Fort Pierce, more and more tenants are being told their beloved animals aren’t welcome. Breed restrictions, weight limits, pet deposits, and blanket “no pet” policies are pushing animals out of safe homes and onto the streets. These are dogs and cats that once slept in warm beds, now navigating unfamiliar territory, confused, hungry, and at risk of illness, injury, or worse.
Pet abandonment shouldn’t be the only option, and it doesn’t have to be.
Emotional Support Animal (ESA) laws offer protection for renters, ensuring that landlords cannot discriminate against tenants who need the companionship and stability of a pet for mental well-being. The process is accessible, inexpensive, and legally backed under the Fair Housing Act. We urge landlords, communities, and local leaders to recognize the urgency of this crisis. And we call on the public to spread awareness, advocate for pet-friendly housing, and support rescues who are stepping in where the system has failed. No one should have to choose between a roof and a best friend, and together, we can change that.
Our Mission
The mission of The Dog and Cat Project is to promote the welfare of stray, abandoned, and at-risk animals by providing rescue, rehabilitation, medical care, and adoption services.
We are dedicated to reducing animal suffering through compassionate intervention, public education, community outreach, and accessible resources that support responsible pet ownership.
Our goal is to create a humane and sustainable future where every dog and cat has a safe home and a second chance.
Featured Cats and Dogs for Adoption!
Available Cats for Adoption
At The Florida Cat and Dog Project, each cat has a story to tell, and a bright future waiting to unfold. Some of our adoptable cats were born safe and loved in foster homes, while others were rescued from community cat colonies where life can be uncertain and challenging. No matter their beginnings, every one of them has been given the care, compassion, and second chance they deserve.
Whether you’re looking for a playful kitten who grew up in foster care, or a resilient adult cat who has learned to trust and thrive after life outdoors, you’ll find a wonderful variety of personalities in our adoptable cats. We invite you to meet them, learn their stories, and maybe discover that your new best friend has been waiting here all along.
Available Dogs for Adoption
Our adoptable dogs come to us from some of the busiest and most overcrowded shelters in Florida, including high-intake facilities like Miami-Dade that often have more than 900 dogs in their care at once. Many of these wonderful dogs were facing uncertain futures, but thanks to rescue and foster networks, they now have a second chance to find the loving homes they deserve.
From gentle seniors longing for a quiet place to rest, to energetic young pups eager to play and learn, each dog has its own unique story and personality. No matter their past, all of them share one thing in common - a big heart ready to love their new family. We invite you to meet them, get to know their stories, and see if your perfect companion is waiting for you right here.
ADOPTABLE CATS!
ADOPTABLE DOGS!
