Local Veterinarians Improve Efforts To Rescue Homeless Pets - Seek Support

The Hillsborough Animal Health Foundation,
in conjunction with the Hillsborough County Veterinary Medical Association, is pleased to
announce two new initiatives as part of our AWAKE! Plan.

First initiative: to support our continuing emphasis on adoption, we are excited to announce
a pilot fostering project involving several local veterinary hospitals! These hospitals have
graciously agreed to take pets from the Animal Shelter to foster until a permanent home can be
located. These are pets that are beyond the normal wait time and would have to be euthanized
but for this fostering program. Participating hospitals include Boyette Animal Hospital, Erlich
Animal Hospital, FourPaws Animal Hospital, Tampa Veterinary Hospital, Timberlane
Animal Hospital, Wellswood Midtown Animal Hospital, and the Veterinary Center at
Fishhawk. These hospitals have agreed to provide any medical requirements and food and
shelter until such time a forever home can be found for the animal. Once any issues involving the
pilot are resolved, this program will be extended to other veterinary hospitals as we continue to
find ways to help Animal Services lower the euthanasia rate.

As Hillsborough County continues to improve its animal control policies, focus on the adoption
of pets to good homes is vital. The overpopulation of pets will not be solved overnight, and the
most progressive animal shelters constantly strive to improve adoption rates. Fostering programs
are an important component of the adoption process and provides additional resources to extend
the time needed to find homes for unwanted pets.

Second initiative: in support of our continuing emphasis on adoption, we are extending our
Public Service Announcement starring “Genna and Buddy,” two friendly animated pets who
have some news for the pet lovers of Hillsborough County. This educational PSA focuses on the
importance of adopting a pet from a local shelter or veterinarian. The announcement has been
running on the BrightHouse and Verizon cable channels, and we are extending the run time thru
the end of the year! To see the PSA, visit the HAHF website at www.hahf.org.

This public service announcement is designed to help increase adoption rates in Hillsborough
County. Participating veterinarians are offering a free post-adoption exam for any pet adopted
from the local shelter or veterinarian! These exams, provided within 7 days of the adoption,
are important to ensure a clean bill of health for the newest family addition. You can find a list
of participating veterinarians at www.hahf.org. Your local veterinarian is always interested in
helping animals find forever homes.

The Hillsborough Animal Health Foundation is celebrating 25 years of public service. The
Hillsborough Animal Health Foundation was founded in 1987 by a community-minded group of
Hillsborough County veterinarians to foster the human- animal bond and to promote responsible
pet ownership, improved pet health and pet care through an emphasis on pet owner education.
Employing thousands and with an economic impact measured in the hundreds of millions, our
veterinary hospitals every year provide hundreds of thousands of dollars in free and reduced
care for animal rescue groups and other individuals, and we proudly support charitable causes
throughout the county in too many ways to count. For more information, visit www.hahf.org or
email us at info@hahf.org.