TAMPA, Fla. – Local animal welfare workers are issuing an urgent call for public assistance as Hillsborough County’s only open-admissions shelter finds itself completely overrun with cats and kittens.
By the end of last week, the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center was housing 390 felines. That population represents a staggering 696 percent of the facility’s designated cat capacity, which is structurally set for just 56 animals. Shelter staff reported that they are currently grappling with record-high numbers of daily intakes, with kittens making up a massive portion of the new arrivals.
Because the facility at 440 N. Falkenburg Road is the county’s sole open-admissions shelter, staff accept every dog and cat brought to them, regardless of the animal’s age, breed, size, or medical condition. While this policy ensures a safe haven for every animal, a massive wave of arrivals throughout April has pushed the shelter’s physical limits to the brink…