Humane Society Seeks Donations After Looting, Damage

TAMPA, FL – The Humane Society of Tampa Bay received some much-needed assistance from a county that saw its own share of disaster after Hurricane Irma passed through on Sunday, Sept. 10.

According to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, looters took equipment from one of their sheds and water intrusion caused the loss of a large supply of dry dog and cat food and supplies. It also reported an estimated loss of $50,000 in operational revenue because it was closed for four days.

“Disaster situations bring out the very best and the very worst in people,” a Humane Society of Tampa Bay representative said on the organization’s blog on Sept. 14. “While we mostly saw the good, we did fall victim to looting. A shed on the back of our property was burglarized and nearly $2,000 worth of essential equipment was stolen.”

The Humane Society reported that a commercial-grade trimmer, a backpack blower, a hedge trimmer, a chain saw, a pole saw, and edger and a generator were the tools that were missing from their shed.

As part of its efforts to coordinate post-Hurricane Irma relief efforts, the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center will deliver 11 pallets of pet food to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, located at 3607 N. Armenia Ave. in Tampa, on Monday, Sept. 18 at 9:30 a.m.

The pet food came from the Caloosa Humane Society in LaBelle. A team of Hendry County employees from different departments pulled together to pick up the food and bring it here.

Hendry County, located southwest of Lake Okeechobee, was one of the counties listed in the Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Florida, making its residents available for assistance from FEMA in their own right.

Both the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center and the Humane Society of Tampa Bay are in need of donations to help pet owners affected by Hurricane Irma. The following items can be dropped off at the Pet Resource Center, 440 N. Falkenburg Road, or the Humane Society of Tampa Bay during their normal operating hours:

Dry and canned food for dogs, cats, puppies and kittens

• Cat and kitten litter
• Clean towels of all sizes (new or gently used)
• Unscented baby wipes
• Milk Bones brand treats (no butcher bones, rawhides or homemade treats)

The Humane Society is also seeking the following donations:

• Money to its general operational fund to help recover the cost of lost revenue, damage and theft
• Gift cards from Lowe’s or The Home Depot
• Replacements of the lost tools mentioned above (Stihl brand is preferred, used tools will be accepted)

To make a monetary donation to the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center, visit www.hcprfoundation.org.

The Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center also said Hurricane Irma brought in an influx of dogs and cats to its shelter. Some are strays displaced from their neighborhoods by rain and flooding. Others came from owners who could no longer care for their pets as they deal with the storm’s affects.

Owners who are missing pets can check online at www.HCFLGov.net/pets or call (813) 744-5660. Before making any pets found during Hurricane Irma available for adoption, the Pet Resource Center will hold animals for 30 days. The center also checks for tags and microchips on ever pet that arrives there, and will contact the owner if one is found.

For more information on how to help the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, visit http://humanesocietytampa.org/.

Image via Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center Facebook page