Pictured: On Saturday, June 21, Ace Hardware and Suncoast Humane Society teamed up for their monthly adoption event, hoping to find homes for dogs like Slade, pictured here. Photo by Cecilia Marty.

Inside the Ace Hardware store serving Wellen Park, you’ll find everything from tools to grills—and dogs. On the third Saturday of every month from 11am to 2pm, the hosts a meet-and-greet with adoptable dogs and puppies from Suncoast Humane Society, a no-kill shelter dedicated to helping animals and people live safer, healthier love-filled lives.

Serving Southwest Florida, Suncoast supports over 50,000 animals and people each year through shelter services, prevention programs and community outreach. At these monthly adoption events, visitors can meet, foster or adopt pets, learn about volunteering and donate to support Suncoast’s mission.

Store owner Chandler Short and employee Matt Considine launched the partnership with Suncoast in 2023. The idea was sparked after Considine’s parents visited Suncoast’s aging facility. Seeing an opportunity to help, they aimed to create a convenient adoption site for the Wellen Park community, about 30 minutes from Suncoast’s Englewood headquarters.

“We didn’t really know what we were doing at first,” says Considine. “But we knew we wanted dogs here, we wanted to help and we wanted to make it fun.” They added BBQ cooking and raffles, turning the events into a community staple. “Now we're going on three years of hosting.”

The event is always held on the third Saturday, so visitors can plan ahead. In warmer months, dogs stay inside the air-conditioned store with individual handlers. Puppies are typically kept in a separate section, with Humane Society volunteers on hand to help.

Public response has been enthusiastic, with many successful adoptions each month. “We see a lot of smiles—especially from people who walk in for the first time and see four dogs lying on the floor and kids running around with puppies,” says Considine. “Our customers tend to be in better moods on dog days.”

Considine and Short have each adopted two dogs themselves. Their pups often come to work, though they’ve recently “banned” their partners from events—“They always seem to bring home another puppy,” laughs Considine.

Funds are raised through hot dog and pulled pork sales, along with a donation jar at the register. Supporting Suncoast fits naturally with Ace Hardware’s charitable culture, which also backs the Children’s Miracle Network and All Children’s Hospital in Tampa.

"Matt and Chandler have been tremendous supporters of Suncoast Humane Society," says Suncoast's Director of Development and Communications, Christine Varcoe. They go above and beyond to turn the adoption events at Ace into a celebration of our animals and our mission. We are truly thankful for their continued partnership with us."

Ace Hardware of Wellen Park, 12236 Mercado Dr., Venice, acehardware.com; Suncoast Humane Society, 2620 Worth Ave, Englewood, humane.org/

Pictured: On Saturday, June 21, Ace Hardware and Suncoast Humane Society teamed up for their monthly adoption event, hoping to find homes for dogs like Slade, pictured here. Photo by Cecilia Marty.