Business & Tech

Hillsborough Veterinarians Launch Initiatives to Save Animals

Local animal hospitals are participating in a pilot fostering program.

The Hillsborough Animal Health Foundation, in conjunction with the Hillsborough County Veterinary Medical Association, has announced two new initiatives as part of its AWAKE! Plan to reduce the number of animals euthanized in Hillsborough County.

In support of their continuing emphasis on adoption, the groups have announced a pilot fostering project involving several local veterinary hospitals.

The local hospitals have agreed to take pets from Hillsborough County Animal Services 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.

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Participating hospitals include Four Paws Veterinary Hospital and the Veterinary Center at FishHawk.

These hospitals have agreed to provide any medical requirements and food and shelter until a permanent home can be found for the animal. Once any issues involving the pilot program are resolved, this program will be extended to other veterinary hospitals.

"As Hillsborough County continues to improve its animal control policies, focus on the adoption of pets to good homes is vital," said Don Thompson,
executive director of the Hillsborough Animal Health Foundation and owner of the Veterinary Center at FishHawk. "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."

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The two veterinary groups are also extending its public service announcements 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 the run time will be extended to the end of the year.

The 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 seven 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.

The Hillsborough Animal Health Foundation and Hillsborough County Veterinary Medical Society announced their four-pronged program called AWAKE! to reduce euthanasia and improve the welfare of pets in September. The program includes an emphasis on animal welfare, adoption, and kids and education.

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, Hillsborough County's veterinary hospitals provide hundreds of thousands of dollars in free and reduced care for animal rescue groups and other individuals every year. 

For more information, visit www.hahf.org or email info@hahf.org.


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