The shelter is a Best Friends Network No-Kill Shelter awardee
The Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center (PRC) has once again been recognized as a Best Friends Network No-Kill Shelter, achieving the lifesaving benchmark for 2025 and reinforcing its commitment to helping pets throughout the community. This is PRC's fourth consecutive year receiving this designation. PRC is the only area shelter that has received the no-kill designation each year that the award has existed.
The independently verified no-kill designation means a shelter has achieved a save rate of at least 90% for the animals in its care, a nationally recognized benchmark established by Best Friends Animal Society. According to the organization, no-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter that can be saved. Those that can't typically suffer from irreparable medical or behavioral issues that compromise quality of life or prevent rehoming.
As Hillsborough County's only open-admission animal shelter, PRC accepts every stray dog and cat that comes through its doors, regardless of age, breed, medical condition, or behavior. Unlike shelters that can limit admissions, PRC serves as a safety net for the community, providing care for lost, abandoned, neglected, and surrendered animals while working to reunite pets with their owners, facilitate adoptions, and connect families with resources that help keep pets in their homes.
In addition to sheltering animals, PRC supports the community through its lost-and-found assistance, pet retention program, field services, low\-cost spay and neuter initiatives, and partnerships with rescue organizations that help expand lifesaving opportunities for pets in need.
Help make a difference
Maintaining a no-kill status requires the support of the entire community. Residents can make a difference by adopting a pet, fostering animals in need, volunteering their time, donating supplies, licensing and microchipping their pets, and reclaiming lost pets as quickly as possible. Families who are considering surrendering a pet are also encouraged to contact PRC first to learn about available resources that may help them keep their pets at home.
As Hillsborough County continues to grow, community involvement remains essential to sustaining the lifesaving programs that make no-kill status possible. Every adoption, foster home, volunteer hour, donation, and responsible pet owner helps ensure more pets have the opportunity for a safe and healthy future.