Eight shelters will bring hundreds of adoptable dogs to Plant City May 29-31
Hillsborough County, Fla. (May 27, 2026) - Wagging tails and happy hearts will once again fill the Florida Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds as the Fourth Annual Mega Dog Adoption Event returns for three days full of furry fun and fresh starts.
Eight county and municipal shelters from across the Tampa Bay region will participate in the adoption event, which will bring hundreds of dogs to the Florida Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds from May 29 to May 31. In addition to Hillsborough County, available dogs will come from shelters in Pinellas, Manatee, Pasco, Polk, Orange, Marion, and Sumter counties.
Each day, more than 300 adoption-ready dogs of all sizes, ages, and personalities will be available to meet, greet, and go home with new families. Thanks to support from the Team Godwin Foundation, the Hillsborough County Pet Resources Foundation, and the Florida Strawberry Festival, all available dogs will be vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and microchipped, with all adoption fees waived.
The event will take place at the Grimes Family Agricultural Center, 2508 W. Oak Ave., Plant City, FL 33563, with doors open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday through Sunday.
This year, the event will also feature an Extravaganza Day on Saturday with additional activities for families. There will be food trucks, vendors including local trainers, boarding facilities, and groomers, touch-a-truck with Plant City Fire Rescue, OneBlood bus for donations, and a meet-and-greet with presenting sponsor and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin of the Team Godwin Foundation.
Shelters across the country have been housing record-breaking numbers of dogs in recent years. That trend is reflected at shelters across West-Central Florida, which are consistently operating well above capacity. The Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center (PRC) is currently at about 150% of capacity for dogs; some have been at the shelter more than 100 days.
The Fourth Annual Mega Dog Adoption Event is more than just a great opportunity to welcome a new best friend into your home - it's a chance to give a shelter dog the second chance they deserve. Every adoption not only changes a dog's life but also makes room for another one in need.
To browse a full list of available PRC pets, visit the PRC online kennel.
WHAT: Mega dog-adoption event featuring eight counties
WHEN: May 29-31, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day
WHERE: Grimes Family Agricultural Center, 2508 W. Oak Ave., Plant City, FL 33563
Links: Photos, video from previous mega-adoption events