Puppy Alert! This playful pup needs his new home. Meet our Pet of the Week

A young puppy was tied up outside without food, water or shelter from the South Florida sun. After a concerned neighbor reported the problem, the 5-month-old dog went to the animal shelter in hopes of finding a family that would love and care for him.

Welcome to the Palm Beach Post’s Pet of the Week series, where we showcase adoptable animals in Palm Beach County in hopes of finding them loving homes. The Palm Beach County Animal Shelter selects a Pet of the Week for this series that is safe, friendly and ready to be a companion. All pets are up to date on vaccinations.

Since we started this series in February, 21 of our Pets of the Week have been adopted!

This week’s pet is Iris, a young dog with a lot of love to give. Iris stands out with her white coat and uniquely colored eyes. She is an extremely playful dog who loves to get to know others.

Here’s what you need to know about our Pet of the Week, including what the staff at Animal Care and Control says about his personality.

Dog available for adoption: Iris

• Age: 5 months

• Weight: 23 books

• Sex: Male, castrated

• Animal ID: A2214714

More information: Iris is a playful dog who gets along well with other animals in the house. He loves playing with other dogs and burning off his energy by exercising.

Not only is Iris up for adoption, but he’s also part of the shelter’s short-term foster program. If someone can open their home to him for seven to 10 days, Iris can then go to the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League for adoption. This frees up more kennel space for other homeless animals at the Palm Beach County shelter.

For more information about Iris, check out her online profile on the Animal Care and Control website.

Palm Beach County Shelter Selects Pet of the Week From Group of Certified Adoptable Cats and Dogs

Palm Beach County Animal Shelter officials choose the animals The Post will feature in this series. They often select longtime residents or animals who don’t adapt well to life in the shelter.

The chosen animals are part of the shelter’s “Pet Pal” program, in which volunteers repeatedly assess the animal’s temperament, safety and friendliness before deciding whether it is ready for immediate adoption, according to the shelter’s website.

Pets that are sick or have a history of aggression are not eligible for the Pet Pal program. Dogs with a history of biting humans or other animals are also not eligible.

How to Adopt a Cat or Dog in Palm Beach County

You can begin the adoption process in person or online.

To start in person:Visit Animal Care and Control during regular business hours at 7100 Belvedere Road near West Palm Beach to fill out an application and meet the pets.

To begin the online process:

1. Use the animal’s ID number (like the one above) to search for it in Animal Care and Control’s online database.

2. Click on the “Ready to adopt? Click here” link to the right of the animal’s photo.

3. Complete the downloadable two-page adoption application and email it to Animal Care and Control at [email protected].

4. Once Animal Care and Control has reviewed your application, a team member will contact you to confirm that your adoption application has been approved. Submitting an application online does not guarantee the availability of the animal.

Adoption fees: Adoption fees are waived for the entire month of September. Adoption fees are typically $60 for adult dogs, $75 for puppies, and $50 for cats and kittens. Palm Beach County residents age 55 and older receive a discount on adoption fees.

Note: All animals adopted from Animal Care and Control will be spayed if female or neutered if male. They will be up to date on vaccinations, protected against fleas and ticks and microchipped.

About sponsorship: If you’re not ready to make a long-term commitment, you might consider fostering a pet. This is a great way to get acquainted with pet parenting and allows you and your future pet to get to know each other. You can find more information about fostering on the Animal Care and Control website.

Katherine Kokal is a reporter covering education issues for the Palm Beach Post. She has a dog, Cooper, who is 8, and a cat, Benny, who turned 1 in May! You can contact her at [email protected]. Help support our work; Subscribe today!

This article was originally published on Palm Beach Post: Puppy for adoption at Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control