Margot and her kittens were struggling to survive on the streets. Because of HSTB, their future is bright, pg. 4
LEADING THE WAY BECAUSE EVERY LIFE COUNTS™
LEADERSHIP & BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Sherry Silk
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sarah Glaser President
Wyatt Castellvi Vice President
Phil Nodhturft III Treasurer
Nancy Newman Secretary
Morris Massey Member at Large
Amy Nelson Agliano
Suzie Archibald
Meredith Balasco
Kevin Bischoff
Ryan Cook
Liana Fuente
Steven Hearn
Steve Rovner
Jacalin Russo
Jennifer Williams
Elise Zahn, DO
BOARD EMERITUS
Linda Reitz
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Greg Balasco
Simon Canasi
Mayor Jane Castor
Lisa DeBartolo
Nikki DeBartolo
Lindsay Deignan
Danita Dickman
Commissioner Ken Hagan
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Parker Homans
Brad Lancaster
Sandy Murman
Scott Price
Kim Rogers
Cherie Schonbrun
Cathy Smith
Cynthia Smoot
Andrea Gonzmart Williams
MAKING
3 4 6
LETTER FROM THE CEO
8
FEATURE STORY — BRINGING HOPE TO THE ABANDONED
Every year thousands of cats like Margot and her kittens struggle to survive on the streets.
COMMUNITY CARE — HSTB ANIMAL HOSPITAL
A resource for families struggling to care for their pets.
SUMMER VIBES ONLY – PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT Shelter animals revel in Critter Camp fun.
10 12 14 17
HAPPY TAILS
Happily ever afters that you made possible!
RUNNING WITH DOGS
Local Cross Country team devotes training to shelter dogs.
HEARTWARMING STORIES FROM YOUR SHELTER Successful adoptions and rescue “tails.”
16
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
Group Volunteers play a crucial role in shelter animal care.
PLAN YOUR LEGACY
Help build a sustainable future for homeless animals in Tampa Bay.
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VOLUNTEER OF THE QUARTER / ISLAND PAWS SPONSOR RECOGNITION
RECOGNITIONS & THANKS 19
Editor: Regan Blessinger Layout and Design: Nash McCutchen
Contributors: Danyelle Van Horn, Valerie Hogan, Madison Kostka, Liz McCoy, Lisa Novorska, Sherry Silk, Ornella Varchi, Krista Sparkman Photography, Robyn Walk Photography
Beautiful Margot (the gorgeous cat at left and on the cover), represents the thousands — yes thousands — of unwanted cats that come through our doors each and every year. 2023 has been the worst year yet with huge numbers of newborn kittens and unwanted cats being dropped off at shelters in Hillsborough County, the greater Tampa Bay area, and across the State of Florida. Shelters literally can’t keep up with the volume and are struggling to find homes for all of them. There are many reasons for the overpopulation, but the most heartbreaking is that cats are viewed as disposable. When people move they usually take the family dog, but for some reason, they think nothing of putting the family cat outside and leaving it behind. This is terribly cruel (and illegal!) because cats love their people just as much as dogs do, they just show it in different ways. The fact that many people do not value cats the same way they do dogs is a difficult thing for me to understand.
Another reason for the rise in population is that people are not spaying and neutering their cats, which is the only way to reduce the number of kittens being born. If you own a cat, please get them sterilized. If you are taking care of and feeding a stray cat, make sure that they are spayed or neutered. Our animal hospital dedicates every Monday to sterilizing outdoor stray cats (TNVR). We sterilize, vaccinate and ear tip * the cats. That way they can continue to live outside, as long as someone is feeding them, but won’t add to the overpopulation problem. Our TNVR program was started in 2008; since that time we have sterilized more than 80,000 stray cats, mostly in Hillsborough County. That’s a good start but we have a lot more work to do. You can find additional information about the TNVR program on our website.
It was an honor, and lots of fun, to share my office with Margot and her three kittens. Margot is quite affectionate and purrs when she sits in your lap; she will make a wonderful companion. As I write, Margot and her kittens are available for adoption along with so many others. If you have room in your heart and home, please visit our shelter to see the great selection of adoptables cats. Tampa Bay has an excellent reputation as a caring animal community; surely, together, we can solve this very challenging problem.
Thank you for caring for the animals.
Chief Executive Officer SherryS@HumaneSocietyTampa.org
The fact that many people do not value cats the same way they do dogs is a difficult thing for me to understand.* Ear-tipping is the international sign that a cat has been sterilized.
At just one-year-old, Margot was abandoned with her three babies. Practically a kitten herself, Margot had to protect and feed her family without shelter or access to the healthful food that would support her milk supply. Thankfully, a Good Samaritan found them and brought them to HSTB where she knew they would receive the best care.
Unfortunately, Margot’s tale is one that the Humane Society of Tampa Bay sees too often. The 2023 kitten season saw thousands of cats and kittens abandoned, surrendered, or brought to the shelter as strays. While
Hillsborough County is overrun with stray and feral cats, and while HSTB and other local animal welfare organizations work to help quell the population, it will
their stories and circumstances were different, they all shared the hope of finding loving homes.
By mid-spring, HSTB fosters were at their max capacity, prompting many HSTB administrative staff to foster kittens in their offices to make space in the shelter for the many other cats still waiting to be saved. Margot and her kittens, Mary, Marisol, and Macho, got the honor of being fostered by CEO, Sherry Silk. They loved watching the cars go by from their sunny perch in the third-floor office. They happily attended meetings and kept the administrative staff in line.
After a few weeks, Margot and her kittens went to an experienced foster home on the water on Clearwater Beach! The foster reported that they had a blast running, playing, and looking out the windows to watch for dolphins! Margot and her kittens have since returned to the shelter and are currently available for adoption.
take community involvement to make a difference. Spaying and neutering is the humane and proven way to prevent
Homeless cats are counting on you.
unwanted litters from being born and ensure population control.
The Humane Society of Tampa Bay ‘s Animal Hospital offers affordable spay/ neuter surgeries for owned pets, as well as Trap/Neuter/Vaccinate/Return (TNVR) services for feral and outdoor cats. To
find out more, scan the codes below or visit: HumaneSocietyTampa.org/ahc
SPAY/NEUTER FOR OWNED CATS
TNVR SERVICES FOR FERAL CATS
As veterinary costs continue to rise, the HSTB Animal Hospital serves as a lifeline for struggling families. Open to the public six days a week, the Hospital offers fullservice veterinary care at affordable costs. The stories below demonstrate how this vital community resource touches the lives of pets and the people who love them.
Mr. Green was grieving the loss of his dog when he found a stray covered in fleas with a nasty bite wound on his neck. He felt drawn to the good pup and wanted to give him a loving home but wasn’t sure about the cost of the medical care he needed. He brought “Houston” to the HSTB Animal Hospital to see if there was any hope. Thanks to our Pet Assistance Fund, Houston was treated by the medical team (first photo) and went home with a new last name, Green!
Retired animal lover, Ms. Ochoa, had been feeding an elderly stray cat and finally gained her trust. When she brought the kitty inside, she noticed that “Sasha” had painful skin and trouble eating. She brought her to the Animal Hospital and learned that the cat had scabies and severe dental disease. Ms. Ochoa was heartbroken; she could barely afford the skin medicine, let alone a dental procedure. The hospital staff helped her apply for assistance that would pay for the surgery. Sasha is now off the streets, free from pain, and thriving in her forever home.
Mrs. Juan became worried when she noticed that her dog, Gracie, was in pain every time she put weight on her paw. She took the 8-year-old chihuahua mix to the Animal Hospital where she received an interesting diagnosis – Gracie’s dew claw had become embedded in her skin! Our veterinary staff was able to remove the offending claw and sent Gracie home with antibiotics and instructions to rest. Mrs. Juan was so grateful and overjoyed that her dear companion was no longer in pain.
Tilly Mae, a 6-month-old puppy, was playing happily in her yard with she toppled a pile of wood and it fell on her. It was obvious from her cries and inability to walk that something had been broken. Her family rushed her to the Animal Hospital where an X-ray revealed a broken hip. Fearing they could not afford the specialty surgery she needed, they were crushed at the prospect of having to surrender her to the shelter. After discussing their situation with the staff, the Pet Assistance Grant was used to make sure Tilly Mae got the care she needed and was able to stay with her people. The surgery went well and the pint-sized pup is now recovering happily at home.
Mrs. Jufko (pictured far right, red shirt) found four young kittens in her yard that appeared to have upper respiratory infections (URI). She knew that if left untreated URI can be deadly, so she brought the sick babies to the Animal Hospital. Thankfully, the infection was not too far gone and we were able to treat the kittens’ with baths, fluids, a nutritious meal, and strong antibiotics. Because the kittens were stray, the HSTB Pet Assistance Grant was able to lower the cost for Mrs. Jufko. She also took home a humane trap in order to catch the mother and have her spayed through the HSTB TNVR program. As an added bonus, veterinary assistance students observing at the hospital gained valuable hands-on training by helping to care for the kittens (see second and third photos).
For 8 weeks each summer, the shelter hums with excitement and energy as children ages 7 – 13 participate in Critter and Career Camps, HSTB’s most popular Humane Education programs. The camps aim to nurture the next generation of animal advocates by teaching empathy and compassion as well as basic knowledge about the mental, physical, and emotional needs of companion animals.
During the week-long sessions,
campers learn about humane animal care, animal-related careers, and HSTB’s lifesaving programs while getting lots of quality, hands-on time with the homeless animals at the
shelter. They also enjoy pet-themed crafts, playground time, games, movies, and a pizza party.
While Critter Camp is certainly fun for the participants, it is the animals who receive the greatest benefit. They bask in the children’s unbridled enthusiasm and relish the special and innocent affection that only a child can give.
Critter Camp is also offered on school holidays during the year.
Learn more and see all HSTB Humane Education Programs at HumaneSocietyTampa.org/kids or by scanning at right
It was a sweltering August day in HSTB’s old shelter building when Rosie was brought in as a stray, heartworm positive, and depressed. Meanwhile, a family was at the shelter looking for a companion for their dog. When they saw Rosie, she poked her little nose through the kennel and fixed them with a mournful gaze. That’s all it took, they were in love and adopted Rosie as soon as she became available.
Once home, it didn’t take long for the clouds to lift and Rosie’s personality to shine. Her family reports that she is their “wild child” who loves to play tug-of-war and cuddle with her brother, Romeo (far right photo, middle dog) and cousin, Café (far right photo, white dog) . Rosie is their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!
Amanda’s son had been through a lot and she knew that getting him a companion would lift his spirits. She came to the shelter set on a kitten, but decided to pop into one of the adult cat rooms “just to say ‘hello’.”
She was petting several of the cats when she noticed one who was sad and withdrawn, hiding in a corner. As she approached him, she suddenly got goosebumps; on his collar was the name “Itachi“... her son’s favorite anime character. She knew instantly that it was meant to be. Itachi seemed to know too and he came out of hiding to cuddle. The once shy kitty now sleeps with Amanda’s son every night, comforting and watching over him. Fate worked her magic again!
When Rex was brought to the shelter he was extremely emaciated and withdrawn (first photo) . The shelter environment was overwhelming for him so he went to a foster home. After much unconditional love, reassurance, and specially-made meals, he soon reached a healthy weight and blossomed into a gentle, happy, and loving soul. By this point his foster mom, Andrea, was completely smitten and decided to adopt! She shared that Rex’s favorite activities are spending time with his kitty sister (also a HSTB alum, second photo) , going on car rides (third photo) , and napping (fourth photo) . He also visits senior homes (fifth photo) and schools as a HSTB Pet-a-Pet Ambassador bringing laughter and inspiration to everyone he meets.
From Cupcake’s Adopter: “My daughter had been asking for a cat for years, but I was too overwhelmed with caring for and then grieving the loss of our senior pug. We finally adopted Cupcake last year and ... now, we can’t imagine life without her.”
From Jarvis’ Adopter: “I just wanted to give you an update on our sweet boy Jarvis who we adopted in May 2021; we just celebrated his 2 nd Gotcha Day! Jarvis has brought us so much joy and is a member of our family. I’ll never forget when I saw those big eyes looking at me, I knew he was our dog. We were told he was heartworm positive and with the help of The Humane Society, he is healthy and living his best life. He loves going for long walkies, loves his bed and comfy blankets, has a big stubborn streak, and loves teasing his human sisters. He is the best boy and we are always so thankful for The Humane Society of Tampa Bay for bringing Jarvis into our lives!”
Being in a shelter can be hard for dogs. Despite multiple daily walks and time in the play yards, enrichment toys, and plenty of action to watch when the shelter is open, it can get boring living in a kennel. Naturally active, athletic, and highly intelligent breeds are particularly susceptible to the tedium and can develop depression or anxiety.
It is with this in mind that the Steinbrenner High School Boys Cross Country Team, aka Boss Cross, has been taking shelter dogs on their
early morning training runs for the past seven summers. They meet at the shelter where Glen Hatchell, HSTB Behavior and Enrichment Manager, selects dogs who are most in need of
exercise and works closely with the team members to ensure the pups’ safety during their outing. Runners and dogs then pile into cars for the short trip to Al Lopez Park where they enjoy much-needed stress-relief, physical conditioning, and lots of fun.
“The major value of this program is that the dogs get to enjoy normal experiences – car rides, going to the park, and being with people – just like they would in a home,” said Hatchell.
He also noted that the dogs who participate regularly are more relaxed in their kennels, more secure and eager around new people, and adapt quickly to home life once adopted.
This partnership has been a huge success receiving national attention on The Dodo, People.com, and The Today Show. Some of the dogs have even been adopted by their running mates.
The Humane Society of Tampa Bay periodically partners with philanthropic organizations to help more animals find loving homes through reduced or waived adoption fees. These special initiatives are offered for a limited period of time and often include resources and supplies for adopters. This summer nearly 300 of our homeless animals were adopted through two such partnerships.
Empty the Shelters took place May 12 th – 14 th and was a great success; 195 of HSTB’s animals (135 dogs, 60 cats) found forever homes!
Petco Love Mega Adoption Event, June 23 rd – 25 th , was held in conjunction with many other Florida shelters. The event was a success across the state and 99 of HSTB’s dogs, cats, and pocket pets went to loving homes.
The Humane Society of Tampa Bay is frequently questioned about the safety of offering adoptions at reduced or waived rates. Well-intentioned pet lovers worry that 1. the animals will be returned within days or weeks, or 2. the animals will be used for bait in dog fights.
The good news is that nationwide research, along with our 100+ years of experience, does not support these claims. In fact, retention rates stay consistent whether or not adoption fees are waived. In addition, criminals seeking bait for illegal dog fighting do not adopt from organizations that require proof of residency and valid ID, as HSTB does. Such people do not want to be traced.
Ricky was brought to HSTB by kind waste management employees after he tumbled out of a recycling load they were collecting. He was starving, dehydrated and suffering from a skin infection (left and top right photos) . Though touch and go at first, the feisty ferret pulled through and recovered. Ricky was adopted by
The HSTB Rescue Team received a call about an abandoned dog who was tied to a tree with rope and heavy industrial chain. When the team arrived on scene she was so excited, wagging furiously and jumping right into the rescue van. She was tired, hungry, and dehydrated but otherwise healthy. Staff had to use bolt cutters to remove the chain but, once free, Sweet Pea was giving kisses and dancing with glee. The three-year-old pup is currently available for adoption at the shelter.
Tiny Jaguar had made himself comfortable in the engine of a gentleman’s car. The man heard him crying but was unable to reach him, so he took apart his entire bumper system to rescue the little dude. Jaguar was frightened and shaking when he arrived at the shelter, so medical staff kept him wrapped up tight until he felt more secure. After a healthy breakfast, he was sent to a foster home to grow a bit before being adopted.
Each morning, HSTB welcomes groups of up to 12 people to the shelter to help get the animals ready for the day. These essential volunteers come from corporations, schools or local organizations that want to give back to the community in a meaningful way. Volunteering with colleagues and fellow-students is a wonderful way to promote team building and a sense of purpose in work, school and professional environments. The teams love spending time with the animals and ensuring their day begins with plenty of love and affection.
HumaneSocietyofTampa.org/volunteer
Planned giving allows you to strategically plan your charitable giving to maximize the personal, financial and tax benefits of your gifts.
Leaving a gift to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay will help build a sustainable future for the animals. Your planned gift can meet your personal, financial and estate planning goals while leaving a lasting legacy that will impact the life-saving work that is done for animals in need.
Through proper planning, the legacy of love and care that you leave for your family and friends can be inspiring.
Meet Linda Barrington, a cherished HSTB volunteer for nearly a decade who has accrued more than 5,000 volunteer hours! She spends most of her time on our Feral Cat Patio helping with the 85-90 cats we sterilize each Monday. She works well with the TNVR team and is passionate about caring for the cats. Linda also helps with HSTB events like Bark in the Park and SpaKitty dinner. She is never late and always follows through; she is someone we can really count on. Her passion for HSTB is inspiring, we wish we could clone her! Thank you, Linda!
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The Humane Society of Tampa Bay teamed up with Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center for OPERATION PIT STOP which offered free spay/neuter for up to 500 bully breed dogs during July and August. The surgeries were available at both locations and participants also received free vaccinations, microchip, county license, and bag of dog food. This initiative addresses the nationwide crisis of too many bully breeds in shelters. Sterilizing is not only healthier for the dogs, but future unwanted litters are prevented.
