TAMPA, Fla. — With extreme heat gripping the Tampa Bay area, local shelters are working overtime to keep animals safe and cool — but overcrowding and limited air conditioning are making it a challenge.
The Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center currently has about 245 dogs, well above its 180-dog capacity. Of the seven dog kennels at the facility, only three have air conditioning. Those cooler spots are reserved for medical cases and heat-sensitive breeds.
“We are an open admission shelter, so we do take in all of those animals that come to us,” said Chelsea Waldeck, division director for the Pet Resource Center. “We’re still making it work. We’re also retrofitting all of the insides of the kennels with brand new ceiling fans.”…