HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – With kennels overflowing and the holidays fast approaching, Hillsborough County animal services officials are launching a two-pronged effort to get pets out of the shelter and onto a couch before Christmas.
The Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center (PRC) announced Thursday that its dog population is currently well over capacity, with new intakes arriving daily. To combat the overcrowding, the shelter is hosting a fee-waived adoption event this weekend and bringing back a popular short-term foster program designed to empty the facility for the holidays.
Home for the Howl-idays
The push begins this Saturday, Dec. 13, with the “Home for the Howl-idays” event. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the shelter at 440 N. Falkenburg Road in Tampa will hold an open house where the public can meet adoptable animals.
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To encourage adoptions, officials confirmed that all adoption fees will be waived for the day. The event is designed to be family-friendly, featuring a festive photo booth and a “Canine Cookie Cabin Contest” for visitors.
A Silent Night at the Shelter
For residents who aren’t ready to adopt permanently but want to help, the county is returning its “Silent Night” foster program. The initiative allows residents to take a dog or cat home for a short holiday break, giving the animal a respite from the high-stress environment of a crowded kennel.
Here is how the timeline works:
- Pickup: Foster parents pick up a pet and necessary food between Dec. 18 and Dec. 23.
- The Stay: The pet stays in a home environment through the holidays.
- Drop-off: The animal returns to the shelter between Jan. 2 and Jan. 9.
Shelter staff noted that kennel life is intended to be temporary. Long stays in loud, crowded environments can cause significant stress for animals. The Silent Night program not only gives the specific animal a vacation but also opens up critical cage space for incoming strays.
Officials noted that these short-term foster situations often result in permanent homes, as foster families—or their visiting friends and relatives—fall in love with the houseguest.
How to Help
Residents interested in the Silent Night program can view available animals online. Any pet listed as “Ready to Go” is eligible. To participate, residents simply need to visit the Pet Resource Center and select an animal.
As the only open-admissions shelter in the county, the PRC accepts all dogs and cats regardless of breed, size, or medical status. The facility is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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