AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – If getting a pet for Christmas wasn’t on your to-do list, think again.

Augusta Animal Services has the chance for you to “test run” a pet this week as part of their Home for the Holidays program.

You get to foster a pet, with all the food and supplies you need provided for you and in return, a dog or cat gets to spend the holiday outside the shelter.

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Augusta Animal Services says they struggle with overcapacity almost all year round so events like Home for the Holidays are crucial.

“We have really high hopes for it, we always do,” said Rebecca Reece, Augusta Animal Services outreach coordinator.

It’s an event the shelter depends on.

“Home for the Holidays is one of our favorite programs,” said Reece. “We do it every year for Thanksgiving and for Christmas.”

The goal is for animals to find a home where they can spend lots of future holidays.

“We have a pretty good rate of people who take their dogs home for the holidays, deciding to keep them which is something we love having happen,” said Reece.

But adoption isn’t a requirement. They say taking them home even just for a little bit can help.

“It helps get the dogs out into a home environment over the holidays,” she said.

Which in turn, makes them more adoptable.

“It still helps us get a lot of vital notes about how the dogs do in the home environment, which helps future adopters,” said Reece. “It also helps the dogs to just enjoy themselves for a while. It means they’re not in the kennel.”

And they say they are there to help you through the process.

“You can always just come in and let us know if you’re looking for a dog or if you’re looking for a cat,” she said.

They say they’ll do their best to make sure both you and the animal are comfortable.

“We’ll talk to you a little bit about your home, what you’re looking for, whether you have any animals in the home already, and we’ll give you some suggestions of dogs you might like,” said Reece.

If you decide to add a furry friend to your holiday fun, they will give you everything you need to get started.

“The leash and some food. Some minor supplies,” said Reece. “Almost like a gift bag to make it easier for you.”

Augusta Animal Services says even though the shelter is closed on Tuesday, they will still have the event from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m

If you decide to return your foster animal, you can do that between Jan. 2 and 3 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

If you do adopt that animal, your adoption fee is waived.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Recovery Centers are taking a Christmas break.

South Carolina centers are closed from now through Dec. 29 for Christmas. They’ll also be closed on New Year’s Day.

Georgia centers are closed Tuesday through Thursday this week and then Dec. 31 through Jan. 2 next week.

To locate disaster recovery centers and their hours, visit https://egateway.fema.gov/ESF6/DRCLocator.

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Also, there’s no debris pickups from now through Jan. 2 in Richmond and Columbia counties.

Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson says contractors are on break for the holidays.

Leaders say pickup will begin again on Jan. 3.

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