No More Room; 10 Cats, Dog Dumped After Shelter Turns Owner Away

RUSKIN, FL --While residents expressed anger, sadness and pity after learning that a woman dumped her 10 cats and an elderly dog on the side of a road in Ruskin this week, volunteers at local animal shelters shared a single emotion: frustration.

On Tuesday, the Critter Adoption & Rescue Effort Inc., a nonprofit animal shelter in Ruskin, posted photos on its Facebook page of a woman who abandoned her pets -- 10 cats and an elderly dog -- on 27th Street Southeast.

Earlier that morning, the same woman tried to surrender her pets to CARE at 1528 27th St S.E., and was told by a volunteer that the no-kill animal shelter was already at capacity. The woman was given a list of other shelters that might have room for her animals.

Instead of following up with the shelters on the list, the woman drove a short distance away and dropped the 11 pets on the side of the road.

"The individual who dumped the animals had been given a long list of other places she could take them to," said CARE on its Facebook page. "She had the resources and information but chose to not help them and, instead, turned them loose."

Her actions were captured on a bystander's cell phone. Although her name has not been released, the sheriff's office has now identified the woman who dumped the animals. She will be charged with animal abandonment, a misdemeanor.

As of Saturday, the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center has retrieved all 10 cats but the elderly dog remains missing.

While tragic, disposable pets aren't uncommon, say animal activists.

People cite a variety of reasons for surrendering pets including allergies, the pet's behavior, relocating to a community that doesn't allow pets and the high cost of veterinary care.

However, the most common reason, says animal rescue groups, is the failure of pet owners to get their dogs and cats spayed and neutered, resulting in unwanted litters of puppies and kittens.

Unfortunately, shelter space throughout Tampa Bay is at a premium. No-kill shelters like CARE are filled, and county law prevents them from housing more animals than their permitted capacity.

That leaves the Pet Resource Center, formerly Hillsborough County Animal Services, as one of the few shelters that won't turn away owners who are surrendering their pets.

However, the Pet Resource Center also has limited space.

In April, the county took in 587 dogs and 558 cats. Of that total, 261 were surrendered by their owners. The remainder were strays or pets that were confiscated or impounded due to cruelty, neglect, overcrowding or the owner's death.

The statistics for March are equally bleak. The county took in 583 dogs and 550 cats, 258 of which were surrendered by their owners.

The sheer volume is one reason the county places restrictions on surrendered pets. Owners must provide proof of residency in Hillsborough County and complete an in-take process, which requires downloading and completing a form, showing a valid photo ID, providing veterinary records and paying a surrender fee.

That fee is $20 per pet with valid pet registration; $40 per pet with no valid pet registration; and $60 for a litter of pets less than 4 months old.

If pet owners do not follow this procedure, which takes two weeks, they are charged $125 for testing, vaccination and possible isolation in addition to the surrender fee.

Pet activists argue that these fees make it impossible for financially strapped pet owners to legally surrender their pets, forcing them to abandon the animals, which carries a fine of only $100 if the owner is caught.

By contrast, the Humane Society of Tampa Bay accepts surrenders and strays free of charge seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. But, due to limited space and resources, the society can't guarantee that every surrender will be accepted.

That's why the Humane Society, the SPCA and community-based shelters are seeking alternatives so residents aren't forced to surrender their pets.

Many shelters now offer free pet food and services to help owners find new homes for their pets.

Tampa Bay organizations that provide assistance to desperate pet owners include:

• American Veterinary Medical Foundation
• Animal Coalition of Tampa (ACT): Tampa (spay/neuter and vaccination assistance)
• Frankie's Friends: Tampa/Clearwater areas (cancer specific—veterinary care assistance)
• Humane Society of Pinellas: Clearwater (pet health clinic, affordable spay/neuter, pet food pantry, pet food delivery program for senior pet owners)
• Humane Society of Tampa Bay: Tampa Bay (pet food, discounted/free vaccinations)
• Pasco Animal Welfare Society (PAWS): Port Richey (spay/neuter assistance)
• SPCA Suncoast: New Port Richey (pet food)
• SPCA Tampa Bay: Tampa Bay (spay/neuter assistance)
• SPOT Low Cost Spay/neuter Clinic: Pinellas Park (spay/neuter and vaccination assistance
• Vets4Pets, a nonprofit veterinary clinic operated by the Hillsborough Animal Health Foundation (provides low-cost neutering and sterilization and helps residents who qualify pay for veterinary services.)

Abandoning an animal is never an acceptable choice, said Sherry Silk, CEO of the Humane Society of Tampa Bay.

"Letting an animal loose, dropping them off in a park or throwing them away is cruel and illegal," she said. "If you need help, please say something."