Why a New Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center?

In July 2025, WUSF reported that only three of the shelter's seven kennels had air conditioning.

During extreme summer heat, PRC asked the community to help by adopting, fostering or taking dogs on day outings. Staff used fans, water and other measures to help animals stay cool.

A modern facility could provide climate-controlled spaces designed for Florida's extreme temperatures.

Animal shelters can be stressful environments for dogs. Noise, confinement and a high shelter population can make it more difficult for animals to relax and show their normal personalities.

A modern shelter can be designed with animal welfare in mind, including better noise management, appropriate separation and spaces designed to reduce stress.

The goal isn't simply to house animals. It's to create an environment that supports their physical and emotional well-being while they wait to leave the shelter.

PRC is Hillsborough County's only open-admission shelter, accepting domestic animals regardless of breed, size or medical condition.

On August 13, 2026, Hillsborough County reported that PRC was well above capacity, with almost 300 dogs and more than 150 cats. The County asked residents to adopt or provide shorter-term foster homes.

A facility operating above capacity puts additional pressure on available space and shelter resources.

Flooding has also been raised as a concern about the aging facility.

In September 2026, FOX 13 reported that animal advocates described the facility as frequently flooding and lacking proper climate control and isolation areas.

A new facility offers an opportunity to design shelter spaces with Florida's weather conditions in mind.

A shelter isn't only a place where animals are housed. It's also where residents come to meet potential pets and where volunteers spend their time helping animals in County care.

The heat and noise inside the current kennels affect the people needed to help dogs get out. On hot days, potential adopters may struggle to make it through all of the kennels, and the constant barking can make it difficult to even have a conversation about the dog standing in front of them.

Volunteers also watch dogs deteriorate from prolonged kennel stress. Advocates report that some dogs who cannot participate in playgroups may go a week without getting out of their kennels.

A modern, climate-controlled, noise-managed shelter could provide a better experience for adopters and help recruit and retain more volunteers. More volunteers means more walks, more enrichment, more time out of kennels and more opportunities for dogs to be seen and adopted.

FOX 13 reported in September 2026 that the Pet Resource Center on Falkenburg Road dates back more than 40 years.

Today, that facility continues to serve as Hillsborough County's only open-admission shelter while caring for hundreds of animals.

The question isn't simply how to maintain an aging building. It's what kind of animal shelter Hillsborough County needs for the decades ahead.

Caring for hundreds of animals requires much more than kennels. Behind the scenes, veterinary care, laundry, sanitation and other support functions are essential parts of daily shelter operations.

The campaign petition describes the current laundry area as too small and ill-equipped for the volume of laundry generated by the shelter. It also raises concerns about space in the veterinary clinic for treatment, surgery and appropriate medical isolation.

A new facility could be designed with veterinary and support spaces that better reflect the scale and needs of a modern open-admission shelter.