Over 150,000 pets have been saved since 2012
Hillsborough County's Pet Resource Center (PRC) has reached a major milestone with more than 150,000 dogs and cats saved since the shelter began its life-saving transformation in 2012.
Just 13 years ago, nearly two-thirds of the pets arriving at PRC were euthanized, including about 12,000 in 2012 alone. Today, the shelter's live-release rate consistently exceeds 90%, far surpassing the national average and earning no-kill designation from Best Friends Animal Society.
The progress is the result of targeted programs, expanded medical care, and a focus on keeping pets with their families.
Since 2012, PRC has:
- Adopted out 101,133 pets
- Reunited 27,643 lost pets with families
- Partnered with rescue groups to save 21,630 pets
As the County's only open-admission shelter, PRC accepts every dog and cat, regardless of breed, age, or medical condition. That commitment means the shelter is often over capacity - currently about 120% for dogs and 300% for cats - but it also ensures that no healthy or treatable pet is euthanized for space.
Key factors behind the shelter's success include:
- A pet support team that helps owners keep pets through behavior support, food and supply assistance, and medical care resources
- Partnerships with more than 300 pet rescue groups
- Pet-enrichment programs such as dog playgroups
- Rapid spay/neuter and evaluation for same-day adoptions
- Expanded medical treatment for illnesses and injuries that were once considered untreatable in shelter settings
PRC continues to rely on the community to sustain its progress. Residents are encouraged to adopt, foster, or volunteer to help ensure more pets find their way to forever homes.
For more information, visit HCFL.gov/Pets.
