Hillsborough pet shelter holding open house Saturday to teach residents how to foster dogs or cats
Hillsborough County, Fla. (March 19, 2026) - Foster parents play a big role at many pet shelters, providing comfort and care to cats and dogs at a critical time. That role is particularly important at public shelters, which often see thousands of pets a year.
On Saturday, March 21, the Pet Resource Center, 440 N. Falkenburg Rd., Tampa, FL 33619, will hold a foster open house to offer information and encourage residents to become pet foster parents. The open house will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offer educational classes and onboarding sessions, including a Bottle Baby 101 class from 1 to 2 p.m. Both prospective and current foster parents are invited to attend.
Pet foster parents can make a difference in numerous ways. Kitten season is almost year-round in Florida, and foster parents are always needed to take care of young kittens, some of whom might need regular bottle-feeding.
Additionally, a shelter can be a stressful environment, and sometimes dogs and cats just need a break. By bringing the pet home and spending one-on-one time with them, foster parents can provide valuable insights into their behavior, personality, and habits, and that information can make the dog or cat more adoptable. Sometimes, friends or family of the foster parent adopt the pet themselves.
For more information on the open house or the foster program, email FosterPets@HCFL.gov.
The Pet Resource Center (PRC) is Hillsborough County's only open-admissions shelter. It accepts all dogs or cats regardless of age, breed, size, or medical condition. Residents can view adoptable pets at HCFL.gov/Adopt. Follow PRC on Facebook and Instagram @PRCPets for weekly featured pets and other PRC news.