Category: HSTB News

The Humane Society of Tampa Bay (HSTB) is taking drastic measures to protect more than 200 dogs in their care, as well as countless pets within the community, from an aggressive strain of Canine Influenza. For the first time in its 112-year history, the shelter will turn away stray and owner-surrendered dogs in an effort to contain and control the outbreak plaguing shelters across Florida.

The Society made this extremely difficult decision after consulting with experts in canine infectious disease, veterinarians, and animal welfare/control leaders in Florida. Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center, Pasco County Animal Services, and Miami Dade Animal Services are also enacting temporary closures to combat the disease.

“Our leadership did not make this decision lightly,” said HSTB CEO Sherry Silk, “HSTB prioritizes the health of its animals above all else. Unfortunately, this is an unprecedented situation that calls for extreme and immediate action to protect dogs in Tampa Bay.”

The Humane Society of Tampa Bay will take the following measures beginning Wednesday, June 26:

• No dogs will be accepted into the lost/found, adoption, or foster programs for two weeks.
• All dogs currently residing at the shelter or in foster care will be tested for canine influenza and be treated accordingly.
• In an effort to build herd immunity within the community, the HSTB Animal Hospital will provide at-cost ($20) canine influenza vaccinations to owned pets. Owners must make an appointment online at humanesocietytampa.org/ahc or by calling 813-870-3304. The canine influenza vaccination is required twice within two weeks for full protection.
• HSTB encourages those who find stray dogs to contain and care for them until Saturday, July 13 if possible. The shelter will provide free dog food for citizens caring for strays during this two-week period. Food can be picked up at the shelter between 9am and 5pm Monday through Sunday.
• HSTB will continue to receive stray and owner-surrendered cats, rabbits, pocket pets, and exotics during this period of dog intake quarantine, as space allows.
• Dog adoptions will remain open until further notice.

Canine Influenza, or dog flu, is an extremely contagious, respiratory disease. Common symptoms include coughing, loss of appetite, fever, nasal discharge, and lethargy. Dog flu is transmitted through the air and with surface contact. It is not transmissible to humans or other animal species, but can be spread to dogs contact with humans or other animals that have the virus present on their fur, skin, or clothing.

Most dogs have either mild symptoms, or no symptoms at all, and recover within a few weeks. However, because dogs are not naturally immune to the virus, new strains can cause severe health issues, and sometimes death, in dogs with compromised immune systems.

“The community should not panic,” said HSTB Director of Shelter Operations Danyelle Van Horn, “while it should be taken seriously by pet owners, canine influenza is much more dangerous in shelter environments than in private homes because of the sheer number of animals housed together and the multiple avenues of transmission.”

The Humane Society of Tampa Bay encourages dog owners to keep their pets up-to-date on all vaccinations and suggests having dogs vaccinated against canine influenza as an added precaution.

The Humane Society of Tampa Bay and New Statewide Coalition Take Stand Against Cruel Puppy Mills:

Coalition Urges Families to Adopt Rescue or Shelter Pets this Holiday Season

and Calls for Legislation to End the Puppy-Mill-to-Pet-Store Pipeline

December 6, 2023—In response to massive public backlash against a Pinellas County nonprofit shelter providing veterinary services and positive publicity for actors in the multi-million-dollar, cruel commercial dog breeding industry, the Humane Society of Tampa Bay today announces it is joining with a new statewide coalition of animal sheltering organizations working to promote pet adoption and shut down the puppy mill pipeline into Florida. Florida Shelters Together Opposing Puppy Mills (“Florida S.T.O.P.”) asks those looking to bring a new pet into the family this holiday season to make shelter pet adoption their first option and urges state lawmakers to prohibit the retail sale of dogs and cats in 2024.

While puppies in pet stores may look cute, they harbor an ugly, tragic reality: most are trucked hundreds of miles from puppy mills before arriving at the store for resale, their parents remaining behind to suffer indefinitely in puppy mills. Puppy mills put profit before the welfare of the animals in their care, keeping breeding dogs confined in filthy conditions with poor veterinary care, little socialization or grooming, and ceaseless breeding for years.

The retail sale of puppies creates a demand that can only be met by cruel puppy mills. As a result, puppy-selling retail stores obtain their dogs from commercial dog breeders, also known as puppy mills, through a pipeline of breeders and brokers. Consumers who purchase puppies in stores often report that their puppies were ill at the time of purchase or later suffer from congenital disease due to poor breeding practices.

“The Humane Society of Tampa Bay unequivocally opposes the sale of dogs and cats in retail stores and condemns the inherently cruel commercial dog breeding industry that thrives on the retail sale of puppies,” said Sherry Silk, HSTB CEO. “If you are hoping to add a pet to your family this holiday season, please avoid unintentionally supporting cruel puppy mills and instead visit the Humane Society of Tampa to meet one of the many adorable animals ready for loving homes.”

This holiday season, we urge people who wish to bring a new pet into the family to adopt from a shelter or rescue group. For those looking for a particular breed, many shelters, and rescue groups have specific dog breeds available for adoption or can help advise you on finding a particular type of dog.

When adoption is not an option, please ensure that the breeder is a responsible breeder and not a commercial puppy mill or puppy-selling store. Responsible dog breeders do not sell their dogs to brokers or stores for resale. Make sure that you meet the parents of the puppy and visit the premises where the dogs are bred and raised to ensure that the breeder provides high quality living conditions, socialization, and veterinary care for their dogs.

The Humane Society of Tampa Bay was extremely disappointed to read the article titled “Humane Society of Tampa Bay decision to put 40 kittens to death stirs controversy” by Esmé Fox. The reporter took information from a misinformed and disgruntled volunteer who rarely volunteered with our organization, has no medical background, and provided false information.

Our organization knew we had Feline Panleukopenia virus when kittens were dying in their cages just a day after they were playful and appearing healthy. Many kittens were adopted out after being medically checked by our shelter medical staff and were then found dead in their new homes two days later. That is, unfortunately, what happens when this terrible virus breaks in a shelter. Humane euthanasia was the kindest and most responsible course of action to take. This action also protected the other 300+ animals that are in our shelter.

The misinformation that this reporter chose to spread hurts not only HSTB’s mission but the homeless animals in need in our area. We are surprised that the Tampa Bay Times allowed this article to be published, and we expect more from this media outlet. In the future, we are hopeful that the appropriate research will be done before publication and potentially damaging a reputation.