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ManagedAdmission WE ARE HSTB With so many words, phrases, and ideas being used to describe animal sheltering it is easy to get confused about "who does what". As treasured stakeholders we want you to know exactly where we stand and how our vision, mission, and values are saving the lives of animals in Tampa Bay. WE ARE NOT • A county municipal shelter • A Rescue • A Sanctuary • A law enforcement agency WE ARE MANAGED ADMISSION Also known as "no-kill-for-space" managed admission shelters adhere to the policy that no animal is ever euthanized to make room for another animal. What this means: • Once animals are accepted into our adoption program they stay with us until adopted • We are limited by space and must turn animals away when capacity is reached • We must euthanize animals suffering from illness, injury, or behavioral issues beyond our ability and resources to treat
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Making Tracks
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WE ARE A PRIVATE SHELTER • The Humane Society of Tampa Bay is not an arm of or funded* by the Humane Society of the United States, the ASPCA, or any other national animal welfare organization • The Humane Society of Tampa Bay is not funded by the government and does not receive state or federal taxpayer dollars • The Humane Society of Tampa Bay relies on the generosity of individuals and organizations to support our work. WE ARE A VETERINARY HOSPITAL Offering affordable** veterinary care and spay/neuter services to the public supports our mission and core values. It is our goal to prevent pets from being surrendered to a shelter simply because their owner cannot afford their medical care. Our animal hospital is: • Florida's first non-profit animal
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• Our current save rate is 92%; The accepted, national standard to be considered "no-kill" is 90%.
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hospital to be accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association a full-service veterinary hospital open to the public open 7 days a week
WE ARE COMMUNITY MINDED • We accept thousands of stray animals every year to help alleviate the burden on the county municipal shelter • We provide free pet food to struggling, homebound, and elderly pet parents so that they can keep their pets • We provide free vaccinations to pets in disadvantaged neighborhoods • We offer humane education and resources through hundreds of outreach events and innovative children's programs each year *We sometimes receive grants from national animal welfare organizations for special projects and initiatives **Any proceeds from our animal hospital benefit our homeless animals and outreach programs.
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COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Pictured here and below are photos from our most recent free shot clinic, held April 28th at Perry Harvey Sr. Park
LEADING THE WAY BECAUSE EVERY LIFE COUNTS™ It isn't just the homeless animals in our community that define us, it is every animal in need who crosses our path. One way we lead is by offering solutions to problems pet owners face. To meet the challenge of expensive veterinary care, we offer low-cost spay/neuter surgeries and affordable, full-service care to the public at our animal hospital. We also offer two free vaccination clinics every year. These events, funded by generous supporters Jim and Nancy Parker, are held in disadvantaged neighborhoods and help prevent the spread of disease while keeping pets healthy and in their homes.
DEDICATED TO ENDING ANIMAL HOMELESSNESS AND PROVIDING CARE AND COMFORT FOR COMPANION ANIMALS IN NEED So many animals just need a second chance. They don't have an extraordinary story or tear-jerker circumstance; they are just ordinary "companion animals in need." These sweet souls, who have found themselves without a family, have nowhere else to turn. They define us because their "ordinary" lives matter. So it was with Sebastion. He came to us as a stray, just another brown tabby looking for help. He also had a chronic condition that would require a lifetime on medication. Being ordinary and slightly "special needs" didn't make him the most exciting choice for adoption. But he showed such personality and charm that he won the hearts of a family looking for a superior cuddler and constant companion. As an added bonus they got an expert lounge lizard and consummate clown. They couldn't be happier. #WeAreHSTB Humane Society of Tampa Bay
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MACY While every animal we serve is special, every so often one comes along who touches us deeply. Macy stirred in us anger and despair at the cruelty she'd certainly endured, then tempered those dark emotions with her sweetness and resilience. Her soulful eyes implored us to remember our values and put them to work. 8 Summer 2018
Making Tracks
COMPASSION Macy couldn't stand on her own. The weight of a full-term pregnancy was too much for her severely injured hips (photo 1). One was completely shattered, likely from blunt force trauma. In the other hip a bullet was lodged deep in the tissue, a constant, painful reminder that she'd been despised and unwanted (photo 2). Neither wound had ever been treated and the
suffering she must have endured is unfathomable. Though in pain and unable to walk, she remained docile and trusting, drawn to humans and eager to connect. In fact when we'd put her in a soft, comfy bed to help take the pressure off her hips she'd drag herself out and over to whomever was closest. ŠAGold Photo
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The 9mm bullet that was lodged in Macy's leg
3 Still, Macy's condition was precarious; with bad hips, giving birth would be complicated. If she made it through that, she would still need extensive surgery to make her hips usable again. But this quiet, unassuming little hound mix had ignited our compassion and there was no turning back.
out to us for help and we were able to accommodate.
COMMUNITY "We rise by lifting others". - Robert Ingersoll
to every place where there is an animal in need.
Many shelters don't have the supportive community and resources we do and frequently find themselves overcrowded, underfunded and in desperate need of help. Macy came from such a place; a low-resource, rural shelter that didn't have the medical equipment or space to properly care for her. They reached
While 85% of our animals come from local sources, we are part of a greater good, the companion animal welfare community. Our compassion reaches beyond borders and our commitment to community extends
COMMITMENT In the wee hours of a Sunday morning Macy's foster mom, also an HSTB veterinary technician, awoke to the pup's pained laboring. Recognizing that Macy was in serious distress she called our shelter veterinarian and the two met at the shelter to perform an emergency Cesarean. It was a long night, but Macy
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4 made it through surgery and gave birth to six healthy pups. She was a natural at motherhood, nursing and cleaning her babies right away (photo 3). Macy and her pups stayed in fostercare until the babies were weaned and adopted; all six went to loving homes!
Once Macy recovered from motherhood she underwent surgery on her hips. Unfortunately, one of her legs could not be saved but she adjusted quickly to being a tripod. As fate would have it, true love sent Macy right back to her foster home and into the arms of our staff member Kimy Valdiviezo, this time as an official member of the family (photo 4). #WeLoveFosterFailures #WeAreHSTB Humane Society of Tampa Bay 9