Wednesday January 28, 2026
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Pay It Forward Explained

Pay It Forward is paying off for Metro Animal Services and its shelter pets. Hundreds of cats and dogs have been adopted into loving homes for Free since the program began! Pay It Forward relies on donations which allows MAS to waive adoption fees for certain cats and dogs. Below explains how the program works.

What is Pay It Forward  Friends of Metro Animal Services, a local non-profit organization, initially donated $1,000 to cover free adoptions. FOMAS raised funds during its first-ever Pet Photos with Santa event at Animal House Adoption Center in 2016. An overwhelming success, the fundraiser paved the way for the first free adoptions of shelter pets. A variety of fundraisers continue to support the program.

How Does It Work  Fundraising events and private donations continue to fund Pay It Forward, allowing LMAS to waive adoption fees for cats older than 6 months, large breed dogs weighing 40lbs or more, Pit Bulls and senior shelter pets.

Minimum donations apply for small breed dogs, puppies and kittens that do not fall under the PIF program. To adopt a small breed dog or puppy, we ask for a minimum $125 donation to PIF. The minimum donation is $55 for kittens under six months of age. Of course you can donate any amount and Pay it Forward to help cover the cost  of future adoptions.

Why You Should Adopt from MAS  Adopting instead of shopping saves lives. Shelter adoptions allow MAS to prevent overcrowding, eliminating euthanizations because of lack of space. Shelter adoptions are also  much cheaper than going to a breeder or rescue organization. You could easily spend $200 or more on just the adoption. Donations to our Pay it Forward program not only covers the adoption fee, but the cost of   spay/neuter surgery, a microchip and all vaccinations. Expect to pay a lot  more elsewhere.

What is the Adoption Process While MAS is waiving adoption fees for certain shelter pets, it is not waiving the adoption process. You must fill out an application and be approved before taking home a furry companion!

If you would like to adopt from MAS, you can view our adoptable pets here or at Animal House Adoption Center (3516 Newburg Rd.). *You do not  have to reside in Jefferson County to adopt from MAS.

Want to help but can’t Adopt We appreciate all donations to keep our Pay It Forward program going and save the lives of shelter pets. You can donate any amount to FOMAS/Pay it Forward. Donate $75 or more and you’ll receive a free t-shirt saying ‘I Paid it Forward’. To make a donation, click here or visit Animal House Adoption Center (3516 Newburg Rd.).

Nearly 80 judges and attorneys from the Louisville Bar Association will speak to nearly 2,000 Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) high school students to help them gain an understanding of financial literacy during the two-day Credit Abuse Resistance Education (CARE) blitz.

Attorney volunteers will lead 75 sessions throughout the two days at 22 school sites, helping the teens gain an appreciation for money matters and learn about responsible personal financial management, including budgeting; use of credit; the significance of a credit score; interest; and making a distinction between wants and needs.

Volunteers will also touch on identity theft, cyber dangers and pay day lending.

Now in its 11th year in Jefferson County, CARES is the largest public service project of the Louisville Bar Association (LBA). Founded in 2002 by Bankruptcy Judge John C. Ninfo in Rochester, New York, the program is offered in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

 

More than 600 students from Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) and area private schools will gather Wednesday for the JCPS IdeaFestival, to be held from 9 a.m. until 2:45 p.m. at The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, 501 W. Main St.

With a theme of the ‘flip side,’ the student-centered conference will feature 10 presentations, highlighting discussions of current and forward-looking ideas and issues from a diverse group of speakers. Student-planned and executed, the event provides young people with an outlet to express opinions and delve into timely issues, and encourages students to see the connection between these issue and their lives. You can follow the day’s action on Twitter using #staycurious, #WeAreJCPS or following @ifjcps.

Presentations include:

  • 9:30 a.m.: “The Secret to Success” (Jocelyn Marables – Brown School)
  • 9:45 a.m.: “The Design Process Demonstrated through Cup Holders” (Billy Dunbar – Jeffersontown High School)
  • 10:15 a.m.: “Flipping the Script on Sexual Assault” (Autumn Knuckles – DuPont Manual High School)
  • 10:45 a.m.: “Mindfulness” (Robin O’Bryant – Fairdale High School)
  • 10:55 a.m.: “English as a Second Language” (Camille Rougier, Marco Munoz and Melissa Perello –  DuPont Manual High School)
  • 12 p.m.: “Diversity” (Mwamini Mulungula, Mustafa Abdulrazak, Meena Abdulrazak, Dhahira Faqih, Keon Farris and Evan Farmer – Fairdale High School)
  • 1 p.m.: Early Dismissal
  • 1:30 p.m.: “Where Art and Identity Meet” (Alicia Juarez, Dailah Dwuye and Amelia Oliver – Marion C. Moore School)
  • 1:50 p.m.: “Practicing Allyship in the Face of Oppression” (Netra Rastogi – DuPont Manual High School)
  • 2:15 p.m.: “Comics, Career, Identity and the Future” (Robert Middleton and Josiah Garvizu – Marion C. Moore School)
  • 2:30 p.m.: Entertainment – “I Know a Place” (Cole Railey and Caleb Kennedy – Eastern High School)
  • 2:45 p.m.: Closing of Festival

In 2014, the JCPS IdeaFestival evolved from the IF Manual event, a festival held at DuPont Manual High School and inspired by the official IdeaFestival. The JCPS IdeaFestival has expanded to deliver thought-provoking presentations and festivals to the entire JCPS district and private schools.

Photo: Louisville Metro Council

Councilwoman Jessica Green (D-1) is encouraging any job seeker out there to take advantage of the AFSCME Job Fair set for this Wednesday, February 28th.

“While we are always glad to help any group publicize employment opportunities, we shouldn’t forget there are openings in right here in Metro Government that people may not be aware of,” says Green. “Many times the difference between finding a job and getting a job is knowing what is available.”

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees will hold their Job Fair at Jefferson Square Park right across from Metro Hall between the hours of 11:00am and 1:00pm.

“AFSCME positions have been understaffed for over 2 years mainly in Metro Corrections and Youth Detention Services Departments. AFSCME has worked diligently with Metro to get these positions filled. However we’ve been met with resistance to the point we’ve filled grievance after grievance on short staffing and unsafe working,” says Saulette Davis of AFSCME. “We would like the Community to join us and stand with us in Jefferson Square Park across from the Mayor’s office to fill out applications where we will have computers set up.  Under staffing means the Public is underserved!”

It is an opportunity to learn what open positions there are in Metro Government at all departments and agencies.

“So if you are interested, come check it out,” says the Councilwoman.

For more information, contact Councilwoman Green’s office at 574-1101.

The Louisville Metro Council’s Public Safety Committee will discuss the recent Accreditation Results for the Youth Detention Center when it meets on Wednesday, February 28th.

“I am very interested in hearing about the current situation with the Youth Detention Center,” says Councilwoman Jessica Green (D-10) who chairs the Committee. “There have been recent media reports which have raised some serious questions about operations there. I believe the Committee would like to get a better understanding of just what is going on since we are responsible juveniles in our custody.”

The Councilwoman has asked Dr. Ursula Mullins of Youth Detention Services to discuss the accreditation results. She will be joined by Vincent James of the Mayor’s Office. They will discuss the recently completed audit of the Center’s operations and programs.

The Public Safety Committee meets at 3:30pm in Council Chambers, Historic City Hall, 601 West Jefferson Street.

The meeting is carried live on Metro TV, Spectrum Cable Channel 184 or on UVERSE at Channel 99. All meetings of the Metro Council are streamed live. Go to the Metro Council Home page at Louisvilleky.gov/metrocouncil and click on the Metro Council Agendas link.

The Muhammad Ali Center will be closed to visitors until Tuesday, March 6th, due to the Ohio River’s historic flooding.

Rising water levels within the city-owned parking garage and elevator pits have forced the Ali Center to shut down power to its elevators. Once the flooding recedes, the Ali Center will need adequate time to clean and evaluate the safety and integrity of the elevators. There is no reported damage to the Ali Center at this time.

Donald Lassere, President and CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center, said, “The safety of the Ali Center’s visitors and employees is of the utmost importance to us, so we appreciate the public’s understanding and patience as we continue to monitor the effects that Ohio River flooding is having on our facility and the PARC garage.”

Visit alicenter.org for updates and information about the modified hours of operation.

On Monday, March 5 from 5:30-6:30 p.m., Botanica, Inc. will present a proposal to repurpose building artifacts from the Marriott block and the Board of Trade Building into the design of the future Waterfront Botanical Gardens, now under construction. The presentation will take place at a meeting of the Repurpose, Reuse, Revive (R3) working group in conference room 101 at the Metro Development Center (444 S. 5th Street). This working group aims to take a more proactive approach to protecting and preserving the city’s most historic structures. All are welcome to join the meeting and participate in the discussion.

The artifacts are currently in the city’s possession and are stored at the site of the future Waterfront Botanical Gardens and the city’s Impound Lot. The R3 working group does not have the authority to vote on this proposal but will provide Botanica, Inc. with valuable feedback and suggestions about this opportunity to reuse these pieces of our city’s history.

The R3 working group meets when the topic of artifact reuse is presented as part of a development project. The last time the group met was in 2015 to discuss the preservation and storage of artifacts from the Board of Trade building.

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