It's raining cats, not dogs, at Hillsborough County's Pet Resource Center, where a staggering 628% of their capacity has turned the center into a feline festival.
The Tampa shelter currently hosts 352 cats, vastly outnumbering their resources meant for 56, and at a time when the cat population is typically on the decline, officials are left scrambling for solutions, they're teaming with rescue groups, are appealing to foster parents, and they're now reaching out to the community in hopes that residents will come forward to adopt any of the numerous cats—a situation both unprecedented and urgent.
The Pet Resource Center, known for its open-door policy, welcomes all strays, regardless of their kind, an admirable but challenging mandate that often sees them swell past sustainable numbers, particularly with dogs and cats. Yet, this level of overcrowding among feline friends marks a first for them.
As mentioned by the Hillsborough County, Factors contributing to this cat conundrum are manifold; from hoarding episodes—a house with 60 cats was uncovered last month—to the regular influx of strays brought in by concerned citizens, each day seems to add to their numbers, the center also offers a "Working Cats'' program for those more attuned to the outdoor life and in need of employment in the rodent control department.
Those interested in offering a forever home to these whiskered residents can visit the shelter located at 440 N. Falkenburg Rd., Tampa, FL 33619, with doors open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and can preview available pets, complete with medical and behavioral histories, by navigating to HCFL.gov/Adopt.
