As the holiday season brightens our days with festive lights and goodwill, the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center shines a spotlight on a generous opportunity for locals: providing the gift of home to shelter pets. In a push against high occupancy levels, the shelter invites the community to their "Home for the Howl-idays" event and "Silent Night" foster program.
With their dog population soaring to more than 140 percent above capacity, the center is near double its usual numbers for this season, as stated in a recent newsletter. To alleviate overcrowding, they have waived all adoption fees for an event tomorrow. In a statement obtained by Hillsborough County, the center will be "introducing residents to the shelter" and offering activities such as crafting personalized ID tags and homemade treats for the dogs awaiting adoption.
Complementing the adoption drive is the Silent Night foster program, now in its third year. Aiming to offer pets a break from the stress of the shelter, residents can open their homes to dogs or cats. Participants will take in a foster pet — and provided pet food — sometime between next Monday and December 23, then return the animal to the shelter after the holiday period, by January 3, 2025. This temporary reprieve not only benefits the fostered pets but also creates much-needed space within the shelter.
Potential fosters can view information and photos of eligible "Ready to Go" pets online. Those interested in participating in the Silent Night program must visit the PRC Foster Page to sign up, with detailed instructions available on how to select "Silent Night" in the general interests section, as detailed by Hillsborough County.
The generosity of the Hillsborough community is pivotal to the Pet Resource Center, known for its open-admissions policy that accepts any dog or cat regardless of their breed, size, or medical condition. The shelter operates from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, welcoming the public to partake in these meaningful holiday programs.
