Politics & Government

'High Risk of Euthanasia' at Hillsborough Animal Shelter

Animal Services is warning residents that animals dropped off are likely to be put down as overcrowding becomes a big problem.

Hillsborough County Animals Services has put out the no vacancy sign, so to say, as its Brandon shelter is filled to maximum capacity.

That sign, in fact, sits in the lobby where residents are greeted with a stern warning: “Surrendered animals are at very high risk of euthanasia,” according to MyFoxTampaBay.

A spike in animal intakes is normal for summer, the station reports, but the county is trying to get the word out that the 600-pet capacity has been reached. While the rate of live pets leaving the shelter is up 66 percent over last year, the county reports that euthanasia is up from May.

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New pet resources director Scott Trebatoski is hoping to curb that number with the warning.

"We have to stop thinking of animals as a disposable commodity and like part of the family instead," Trebatoski told Fox. "We don't want them under the illusion that an owner-surrendered animal is necessarily going to be adopted."

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Animal Services faced a number of problems last year that prompted many to say the agency had lost their trust. Former director Ian Hallett was eventually transferred to the county’s parks department.

For more information about the current overcrowding issue, read Fox’s full story here. To find out about adopting an animal, visit the county agency online.

How do you think Animal Services is doing? Tell us by commenting below!


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