PRC IN THE NEWS
PRC in the News
Over the years, local news outlets have documented overcrowding, capacity challenges and repeated calls for community help at Hillsborough County's Pet Resource Center. These stories provide a public record of the challenges facing the shelter and the animals in its care.
CURRENT CAMPAIGN & NEW SHELTER
Current Campaign & New Shelter
September 10, 2026
Animal advocates urge Hillsborough County commissioners to fund new shelter
Animal advocates spoke before Hillsborough County commissioners, urging them to fund a new Pet Resource Center.
READ ARTICLESeptember 10, 2026
Calls grow for new Pet Resource Center shelter
FOX 13 video report on growing community calls for a new Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center.
WATCH VIDEOSeptember 8, 2026
Hillsborough pet shelter petition tops 5,200 signatures
The community petition calling for a new Hillsborough County animal shelter surpassed 5,200 signatures.
READ ARTICLESeptember 7, 2026
Tampa animal advocacy group concerned over future of Pet Resource Center amid Rays stadium approval
A Tampa animal advocacy group raised concerns that the county's focus on the Rays stadium deal could sideline plans for a new Pet Resource Center.
READ ARTICLESeptember 3, 2026
Thousands sign petition demanding county keep promise for new Pet Resource Center
Thousands of residents signed a petition demanding Hillsborough County follow through on its commitment to build a new Pet Resource Center.
READ ARTICLECRITICAL CAPACITY & OVERCROWDING
Critical Capacity & Overcrowding
News coverage documenting overcrowding and critical capacity conditions at the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center.
September 17, 2026
Dog adoptions desperately needed at Hillsborough County's Pet Resource Center as population surges
WFLA reported that the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center is urgently calling for dog adoptions as the shelter population surges beyond capacity.
READ ARTICLEOctober 24, 2024
Hillsborough's Pet Resource Center over capacity after hurricanes
PRC was already over capacity before Hurricanes Helene and Milton, then received another surge of surrendered and abandoned animals in the storms' aftermath.
READ ARTICLEApril 24, 2024
Pet shelters at capacity as population explodes in Hillsborough County
Nearly every PRC kennel was occupied. The report connected increasing animal intake and abandonment with Hillsborough County's rapid population growth.
READ ARTICLEDecember 4, 2021
Inside a Hillsborough animal shelter, overwhelmed by an unseasonable surge
The Tampa Bay Times reported that PRC was caring for roughly double the number of adoptable animals it normally housed during an unseasonable surge.
READ ARTICLEHEAT & CLIMATE CONTROL
Heat & Climate Control
News coverage documenting heat and climate-control conditions at the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center.
August 18, 2025
Hillsborough pet shelter is without AC. Why it's not rare in Tampa Bay
The Tampa Bay Times examined why the Hillsborough County pet shelter lacks air conditioning and how that compares to other shelters across the Tampa Bay region.
READ ARTICLEJuly 31, 2025
Hillsborough's animal shelter needs help protecting pets from summer heat
WUSF reported on the Hillsborough County animal shelter's struggle to protect pets from summer heat, highlighting the lack of adequate climate control.
READ ARTICLEJuly 31, 2025
Hillsborough shelter seeks help protecting dogs from heat
Bay News 9 covered the Hillsborough County shelter's request for community help to protect dogs from dangerous heat conditions.
READ ARTICLEJuly 31, 2025
Hillsborough County shelter asking for help to keep dogs cool amid extreme heat
Tampa Bay 28 reported on the shelter's appeal for community support to keep dogs cool during extreme heat.
READ ARTICLEJuly 29, 2025
Extreme heat impacting dogs at Hillsborough animal shelter, officials put out plea for help
FOX 13 reported on extreme heat conditions affecting dogs at the Hillsborough County animal shelter, with officials issuing a public plea for assistance.
READ ARTICLEJuly 29, 2025
FOX 13 video report on shelter heat conditions
FOX 13 video coverage of heat conditions at the Hillsborough County animal shelter.
WATCH VIDEOAs PRC struggled with extreme heat and limited climate control, community members stepped in to help provide relief.
COMMUNITY RESPONSE: THE NEW BARKER FAN PROJECT
2024–2025
The New Barker Fan Project
In 2024, The New Barker launched a fundraising campaign to help purchase large fans for kennel areas at the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center.
The New Barker later reported that the campaign raised $30,000 and weatherproof fans were installed in Kennels A & B in 2025, with fundraising continuing for additional kennel areas.