Board of County Commissioners also honors Fire Rescue, Emergency Management, Environmental Services, and Communications & Digital Media
During the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners' August Quarterly Awards Ceremony, the Board recognized Hillsborough County Pet Resources and Rescue Me Tampa (RMT), a well-known animal welfare advocacy group, for earning the National Association of Counties' 2026 Achievement Award for Civic Education and Public Information and Volunteers.
Pet Resources Director Scott Trebatoski and Ann Malone with Rescue Me Tampa accepted the awards during the presentation.
The long-term collaboration between Pet Resources and Rescue Me Tampa grew in June 2024 when the Pet Resource Center (PRC) experienced a serious outbreak of canine influenza among its pet population.
All 300 of the center's dogs were quarantined offsite to encourage recovery and immunity.
The quarantine operation lasted approximately one month, and once given the all-clear, dogs returned to a thoroughly sanitized PRC shelter, where a dedicated army of volunteers and rescue groups gave the dogs a nice, clean start. Rescue Me Tampa went into action as multiple RMT teams with hoses and kiddie pools washed and dried all the dogs, and special treats were also provided.
Another example of the collaboration occurred last summer when the region experienced weeks with a heat index over 100 degrees. On the PRC's behalf, Rescue Me Tampa convinced a sno-cone company to visit the shelter and give all the dogs ice and appropriate treats to help them cool down. They also treated the staff and volunteers to free sno-cones to show support.
Other recognitions presented during the awards ceremony included:
- The National Association of Counties' 2026 Achievement Award for Volunteerism to Pet Resources
- 2026 Ragan PR Daily Content Marketing Award - Long-Form Video to Communications & Digital Media's HTV Team
- Emergency Management Accreditation Program Commission's Accreditation to Fire Rescue's Office of Emergency Management
- Florida Fire Chiefs' Association's State Fire Chief of the Year Award_ to Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Chief Jason Dougherty
- Anthony Halcyon from Environmental Services for his induction in the University of Florida's 40 Gators Under 40 - Class of 2026
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