Attention cat lovers and dog enthusiasts of Hillsborough County: your local Pet Resource Center needs you. As reported by HCFL.gov, the Shelter has hit a critical point — it currently houses over five times its capacity for cats and is also significantly over capacity for dogs. With 285 cats and kittens crammed into a space meant for 56, and 247 dogs in a facility with a limit of 180, the center is pleading with the community to help alleviate the strain.
In the midst of summer's peak kitten season, the overflow of animals at the shelter not only amplifies the risk for spreading infectious diseases but also heaps stress upon these already vulnerable creatures. Hillsborough County residents are thus being urged to step forward to permanently adopt or to temporarily foster these pets. As the only open-admissions shelter in the area, which never turns an animal away, the center has been compelled to waive all adoption fees for both cats and dogs in an effort to encourage more adoptions.
According to HCFL.gov, "What is most needed, though, are residents to provide a permanent home or offer their services as a pet foster parent." The center hopes that by placing animals into homes, even temporarily, they will not only relieve the crowding but also improve the animals' chances for a healthier and more social life, making them more adoptable in the long run.
Residents interested in adoption can peruse the Pet Resource Center’s online database of animals in need of homes. For those ready to act, the shelter, located at 440 N. Falkenburg Rd., Tampa, FL 33619, invites potential adopters to visit in person from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Furthermore, there is a call for sign-ups to serve as foster volunteers. Fostering not only frees up critical space at the shelter; it ensures that dogs and cats to spend time in a less stressful environment, becoming more socialized and thereby standing a better chance at finding their forever homes.
To reiterate the gravity of the situation, the Pet Resource Center reminds us that it accepts all dogs and cats, without concerning breed, size or the pet’s medical condition. This unwavering commitment to animal welfare now necessitates the community to rise up in support, to embrace the spirit of compassion and to open their homes, be it ever so briefly, to a furry friend in need.
