Hillsborough shelter over capacity for dogs & cats, adoptions 'desperately needed'

Pet adoptions needed in Hillsborough County

The Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center is at 570% capacity for cats, and 140% capacity for dogs. That has officials at the shelter putting out the call for fosters and adoptions. FOX 13’s Kailey Tracy reports.

TAMPA, Fla. - The Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center says its shelter is more than five times over capacity for cats and kittens, while dog fosters and adoptions are also "desperately needed."

By the numbers:

As of Tuesday, officials say the Pet Resource Center had 285 cats and kittens. That’s 508 percent over its capacity of 56 cats. By Thursday morning, that jumped to almost 570 percent over capacity, with 318 cats and kittens. Five were dropped off Thursday morning. Summer is also peak kitten season.

The shelter has 250 dogs, as well, which is about 140 percent over capacity.

The Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center

Why you should care:

Chelsea Waldeck, the center’s division director, says crowded living conditions can make it easier to spread contagious illnesses while also adding extra stress on the animals.

Dig deeper:

Officials say the Center works with dozens of animal rescue groups and other community partners when the shelter is overcrowded. What they need most, though, is residents looking to either adopt or foster pets, Waldeck said.

What they're saying:

"Right now, it's a little bit unusual for us to see this many," Waldeck said. "We just haven't seen as many adopters coming out for the kittens and cats like we have in the past. Honestly, today, I've seen more people bringing in animals than I've seen leaving our building. So, we want to try to make sure we have that balance so that we have enough space for animals that do need to come in."

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What you can do:

The Pet Resource Center has waived all adoption fees for cats and dogs, and they’re all spayed, neutered and microchipped.

To search the online database of pets at the shelter, click here. To sign up as a foster volunteer, click here.

The shelter is located at 440 N. Falkenburg Rd. in Tampa and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.