Operation Pit Stop To Spay/Neuter 500 Dogs in Hillsborough County

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — The Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center and the Humane Society of Tampa Bay are teaming up to get 500 dogs spayed or neutered at no cost to their owners.

The Pet Resource Center and Humane Society each will provide free spay and neuter services, microchips, vaccines and registration for 250 dogs. The program runs through Aug. 15.

Thanks to Wings of Rescue, residents who bring in their dogs to be spayed or neutered as part of Operation Pit Stop will be registered for a drawing for cash prizes and five winners will be given $1,000 each.

The goal of Operation Pit Stop is to spay and neuter bully breeds, with Pet Resources opening registration even wider to serve any large dog breed over 40 pounds, and also providing free heartworm testing.

Bully breed is a generic term used to identify a wide variety of dogs that includes pit bulls and other relatively large, muscular dogs. Bully breeds are often mistakenly thought of as innately aggressive, which can make them difficult to adopt out, leaving disproportionately large numbers of bully breeds at local shelters.

Those wanting to participate in Operation Pit Stop can make an appointment by calling the Pet Resource Center, 440 N Falkenburg Road, Tampa, at 813-301-PETS (7387) or the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, 3809 N Armenia Ave., Tampa, at 813-252-2023. Residents are urged to call for appointments as soon as possible because the 500 slots are expected to fill up quickly.

The Pet Resource Center is the only open-admissions shelter in Hillsborough County, meaning the shelter accepts all dogs and cats regardless of breed, size or medical condition.

The Pet Resource Center is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Photos and information of dogs and cats available for adoption are available through PRC’s online kennel.

The Humane Society is open Monday through Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. To see the society's adoptable pets, click here.