Broward deputies pair with shelter dogs to boost adoptions
A deputy-and-dog adoption push got a fast start in Broward, where Animal Care had been beyond max capacity and hundreds of pets needed homes.
Broward County officials said a new adoption push pairing Broward Sheriff's Office deputies with shelter dogs got off to a fast start, as the county tries to move animals out of Broward County Animal Care and ease a shelter system under strain.
The campaign has been rolled out with the slogan Paws & Protectors, and Broward County Animal Care featured Deputy Swenson of the Broward Sheriff's Office Civil Division with a dog named Spud in a social post tied to the effort. Officials have not released a public tally from the program in the materials reviewed, but the early response was described as strong.
The push comes after Broward County Animal Care was already dealing with severe crowding. On May 20, 2025, NBC 6 South Florida reported the shelter was beyond max capacity and noted that it does not euthanize pets for time or space. That same day, CBS Miami reported the shelter was at critical mass, nearly 50% over capacity, with hundreds of dogs and cats urgently needing homes.
County adoption information lists dogs and cats at no cost at Broward County Animal Care’s site at 2400 SW 42nd Street in Fort Lauderdale, with adoptions open seven days a week. The county also promoted Bissell Pet Foundation’s Empty the Shelters campaign from July 5 through July 26, showing how Broward has leaned on fee-waived adoption drives and outside rescue efforts to reduce pressure on kennels.
The deputy pairing adds a public-facing law enforcement element to that effort. By putting BSO deputies alongside adoptable pets, the county is using a familiar agency to draw attention to animals that might otherwise get lost in a crowded shelter, while also signaling that the adoption backlog is a public-service issue, not just an animal welfare one.
Broward County Animal Care’s own posts have repeatedly sought urgent community help and rescue partners, underscoring that the challenge is bigger than one promotion. For residents looking to adopt, the county is directing people to the Fort Lauderdale shelter at 2400 SW 42nd Street, where dogs and cats are available at no cost and adoptions run seven days a week.
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