Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center Adoption Hours, Fees, Lost Pets & Shelter Help
Use official Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center resources to check adoption hours, search the online kennel, understand dog and cat adoption fees, find lost pets, report stray animals, reclaim a pet, surrender a pet by appointment, learn about foster support, and avoid confusing the county shelter with the separate Animal Control division.
If you are searching for hillsborough county animal shelter, choose the task closest to what you need. This finder points users to the correct official Hillsborough County route for adoption, shelter hours, fees, lost pets, stray reports, reclaim, surrender appointments, pet help, foster support and animal control issues.
Choose one option. The official action card below updates for adoption, hours, fees, lost pets, stray reports, reclaim, surrender appointments and animal control help.
🐶 Adopt a pet — start with the official Pet Resource Center kennel
Use this for: dogs and cats available through Hillsborough County’s Pet Resource Center in Tampa.
Best official path: open the adoption page, search the online kennel, and visit the Pet Resource Center during shelter hours to meet available animals.
Before you go: some “ready-to-go” pets may have a $0 adoption fee, but registration fees can still apply depending on the pet and adopter.
Hillsborough County Animal Shelter Quick Facts Before You Visit
The Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center, also known as the Michael S. Merrill Pet Resource Center, is the county’s only open-admission animal shelter. It accepts domestic animals regardless of breed, size or medical condition and serves residents with adoptions, lost-and-found services, owner surrenders, fostering, registration, spay/neuter voucher information, and other pet support programs.
The most important accuracy point is this: Pet Resources and Animal Control are not the same division. Pet Resources operates the shelter, while Hillsborough County Code Enforcement’s Animal Control division handles pet-related ordinances, citations, dangerous pets, dog bites, cruelty reports and animal emergencies. A weak article merges them together; a useful article sends users to the right office.
What This Hillsborough County Animal Shelter Guide Covers
Pet Resource Center Hours, Address and Phone Number
The Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center is located at 440 N. Falkenburg Road, Tampa, FL 33619. The main phone number is 813-301-PETS, which is 813-301-7387. The shelter is open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM. Intake hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4:30 PM. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM.
Those hour differences matter. A person coming to adopt should follow shelter hours. A person turning in an animal should pay attention to intake closing earlier at 4:30 PM. A person calling about registration tags or general office help may need office hours instead.
440 N. Falkenburg Road, Tampa, FL 33619
Use this location for adoptions, lost-pet checks, surrender appointments, pet registration, donations and official Pet Resource Center services.
813-301-7387
Also shown as 813-301-PETS.
Monday–Saturday: 10 AM–5 PM.
Sunday: not listed as a public shelter day on the official schedule.
Intake: Monday–Saturday 10 AM–4:30 PM.
Offices: Monday–Friday 8 AM–5 PM.
How to Adopt a Dog or Cat From Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center
Hillsborough County says dozens of animals are available for adoption every day at the Pet Resource Center. The best starting point is the official Adopt a Dog or Cat page and the online kennel. This lets users search current animals before visiting in person.
Search the official online kennel first
Use the Pet Resource Center online kennel to look at dogs and cats currently listed. Save the animal ID, name and profile details before visiting.
Visit during adoption hours
Pet adoptions are handled at the Pet Resource Center from 10 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Saturday. Arrive with enough time to meet the pet and complete the process.
Understand “ready-to-go” before choosing
Some pets are listed as “ready-to-go,” meaning they are already prepared for adoption and may have a $0 adoption fee. That does not mean every pet is free or that registration fees never apply.
Ask fit questions before committing
Ask about age, size, temperament, energy level, medical notes, other pets, children, housing rules and long-term care needs. A good match is worth more than a fast match.
Plan beyond the adoption fee
Budget for food, routine veterinary care, preventive medicine, training, supplies, grooming and emergency costs after adoption.
Hillsborough County Animal Shelter Adoption Fees in 2026
Hillsborough County lists adoption fees by pet category. “Ready-to-go” pets are listed at $0. Standard dog adoption is listed at $85 plus pet registration fee. Small dogs under 25 pounds are listed at $125 plus pet registration fee. Senior citizens age 62 and older are listed at $35 for dog adoption and $65 for small dogs under 25 pounds, both plus pet registration fee. Cat adoption is listed at $50 plus pet registration fee.
That fee table is more useful than vague wording like “low-cost adoption.” A user searching for a Hillsborough County animal shelter often wants to know whether they can afford the pet today, but you should also make clear that registration fees and long-term care costs are separate from the adoption fee.
Listed fee: $0.
Check the individual pet profile and current shelter rules.
Standard dog: $85 plus pet registration fee.
Small dog under 25 lbs: $125 plus registration fee.
Dog: $35 plus registration fee.
Small dog under 25 lbs: $65 plus registration fee.
Cat: $50 plus pet registration fee.
Before paying any adoption fee
- Confirm whether the animal is standard adoption or “ready-to-go.”
- Ask whether a separate pet registration fee applies.
- Review the individual pet’s medical and vaccine status.
- Check whether a senior discount applies to your category.
- Budget for food, supplies, future veterinary care and preventive medications.
How to View Hillsborough County Adoptable Pets Online
Hillsborough County directs users to the Pet Resource Center online kennel to search adoptable dogs and cats. The same official shelter system is also relevant for lost-pet searches because users can choose the stray/lost pet category when checking whether a missing animal may have arrived at the shelter.
Online listings are useful, but they are not frozen forever. A pet can be adopted, reclaimed, transferred, fostered or updated after you last checked. Always verify current status before making a long trip for one specific dog or cat.
Adoptable Pets
Use the online kennel to browse current dogs and cats available through the Pet Resource Center.
Adoption searchStray / Lost Pets
Use the stray/lost category when a missing pet may have been brought into PRC care.
Lost pet searchLost Pets, Found Pets and Stray Animal Reporting in Hillsborough County
If your pet is missing, Hillsborough County recommends searching your neighborhood first because many lost pets are found close to home. Then check the PRC online kennel and choose the stray/lost pets view to see whether your animal has been brought in. The county also advises checking nearby shelters, including the Humane Society of Tampa Bay.
If you find a stray animal, the correct action is different from searching adoption listings. Hillsborough County provides a report-a-stray-animal route through Animal Control. Users can fill out the online form, email Animal Control, or call 813-744-5660. For injured, orphaned or nuisance wildlife, the county directs residents to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission resources instead.
Search your neighborhood, then check the PRC online kennel under stray/lost pets.
Visit PRC’s kennel and also check shelters close to your neighborhood.
Animal Control: 813-744-5660.
Use the official stray-report route for found strays.
For injured, orphaned or nuisance wildlife, use Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission help, not the pet shelter route.
Lost pet steps that actually help
- Search close to home first because many pets do not wander far.
- Check PRC’s online kennel under stray/lost pets.
- Visit nearby shelters if your pet may have crossed area boundaries.
- Update pet registration and microchip contact information immediately.
- Use clear photos, last-seen cross streets and a safe contact method in posts.
- Report found strays through Animal Control, not only through social media.
Pet Resource Center vs Hillsborough County Animal Control
Hillsborough County states clearly that Pet Resources is not in charge of animal control issues. The Pet Resource Center operates the shelter, adoptions, lost-and-found services, fostering, registration and owner surrender processes. The Animal Control division of Code Enforcement handles pet-related ordinances and citations, investigates animal abuse, dangerous pets and dog bites, and receives animal emergency reports.
This matters because the phrase “hillsborough county animal shelter” can pull in users with very different needs. Someone wanting to adopt should contact PRC. Someone dealing with a dog bite, cruelty report, dangerous animal or animal emergency should use Animal Control. Sending both users to the same generic page is lazy and can delay the right response.
Adoptions, shelter operations, lost pets, owner surrenders, pet registration, fostering and shelter support services.
Ordinances, citations, dangerous pets, dog bites, animal cruelty, stray reports and animal emergencies.
813-301-7387
Use for shelter and pet-resource questions.
813-744-5660
Use for animal control, stray reports and emergency/cruelty guidance.
How to Reclaim a Pet and Understand Redemption Fees
If your pet is at the Pet Resource Center, act quickly. Hillsborough County’s official fee schedule lists redemption, boarding and vaccination-related charges. A first offense redemption fee is listed at $50 for a registered pet and $100 for a pet that is not registered. A first offense pet that is compliant and sterilized may have no redemption fee. Second offense redemption is listed at $100, and third offense redemption at $150.
Boarding is listed at $12 per day, and investigation or quarantined dogs and cats are listed at $20 per day, paid every 30 days. That makes delay expensive. If your pet is missing, check the kennel early and gather proof of ownership, registration and vaccination records before arriving.
Redemption fee: $50.
Redemption fee: $100.
First offense: no redemption fee listed.
Standard board: $12 per day.
Investigation/quarantine: $20 per day.
How Hillsborough County Pet Surrender Works
Hillsborough County says owners must contact a Pet Support team member before surrendering a pet. The team can be reached at petsupportteam@hcfl.gov or 813-273-3738. Pet surrender is by appointment only, and PRC only accepts pets from Hillsborough County residents with proof of residency. The owner surrender program is a four-week program, not a same-minute drop-off path.
The county’s fee schedule lists owner surrender fees of $20 for one pet with valid pet registration, $40 for one pet with no valid pet registration, and $60 for one litter with pets under four months old. Do not assume the shelter will accept an owned pet immediately just because intake exists.
Phone: 813-273-3738.
Email: petsupportteam@hcfl.gov.
PRC only accepts pets from Hillsborough County residents, and proof of residency is required.
Pet surrender is by appointment only through the owner surrender process.
Registered pet: $20.
Unregistered pet: $40.
Litter under 4 months: $60.
Foster, Food Help, Spay/Neuter and Community Pet Support
The Pet Resource Center is not only an adoption counter. Hillsborough County lists fostering, rescue partnerships, volunteer programs, community cat support, low-cost spay/neuter programs, vaccinations, microchipping and food help among its broader pet-resource work.
Residents who need help feeding a pet can contact Pet Resources at 813-301-PETS. People interested in fostering can contact the foster team at 813-272-1157. The county also offers spay and neuter voucher information for income-qualifying residents and programs such as Wait Until 8 and community cat support.
Foster team: 813-272-1157.
Use for Pet Resource Center foster program questions.
Pet Resources: 813-301-7387.
Use if you need help feeding a pet or know someone who does.
PRC offers spay and neuter voucher program information for income-qualifying residents.
Official resources include community cat support, kitten-season guidance, Wait Until 8, rescue partners and volunteering.
Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center vs Humane Society and Animal Control
Users searching for “hillsborough county animal shelter” may also see the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, rescue organizations, foster pages, and Animal Control resources. These are not the same thing.
Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center at 440 N. Falkenburg Road in Tampa.
County open-admission shelter for adoptions, lost pets, surrenders, registration and pet-resource services.
Separate Code Enforcement division for ordinances, citations, dangerous pets, bites, cruelty and emergency reports.
Wrong agency means wrong phone number, wrong lost-pet path, wrong fee, wrong report route and delayed help.
Official Hillsborough County Animal Shelter and Pet Help Links
Use these official resources first. They protect users from stale adoption fees, old shelter hours, wrong animal-control routing, outdated surrender claims and third-party pages that do not control county shelter operations.
🏠 Pet Resource Center
Main official location page for Hillsborough County’s open-admission shelter.
Open Pet Resource Center🐾 Adopt a Dog or Cat
Official adoption overview, online kennel path and shelter contact details.
Open Adoption Page📋 Pet Adoptions
Official adoption process, pet types and fee explanation page.
Open Pet Adoptions💳 Pet Resource Fees
Official adoption, redemption, boarding, registration and surrender fees.
Open Fee Page🔎 Lost & Found Pets
Official online kennel, pet tag lookup, stray reporting and FAQ route.
Open Lost & Found❓ Lost & Found FAQs
Official guidance for finding a lost pet or handling a found animal.
Open Lost Pet FAQs📍 Report a Stray Animal
Official Animal Control route for stray animal reports.
Report a Stray📄 Surrendering Your Pet
Official Pet Support team, appointment rule and owner surrender program details.
Open Surrender Page🏛️ Pet Resources Department
Official department page explaining services and the Animal Control distinction.
Open Pet Resources🚨 Animal Emergency / Cruelty
Official Animal Control route for emergencies, cruelty reports and dangerous pet issues.
Open Emergency Help🏡 Pet Fostering
Official PRC foster program information and foster-team contact.
Open Foster Page🥣 Donation or Pet Help
Official food-help and donation guidance for residents and supporters.
Open Pet Help PagePhone, address and key contacts
440 N. Falkenburg Road, Tampa, FL 33619
813-301-7387
Also shown as 813-301-PETS.
813-744-5660
Use for stray reports, cruelty, dangerous pets and animal emergencies.
813-273-3738
Email: petsupportteam@hcfl.gov.
Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center Map and Visit Location
The Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center is located at 440 N. Falkenburg Road, Tampa, FL 33619. Use this location for adoption visits, lost-pet checks, pet registration, surrender appointments, donations and official county shelter services.
Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center
Address: 440 N. Falkenburg Road, Tampa, FL 33619
Hillsborough County Animal Shelter FAQs
What are Hillsborough County animal shelter hours in 2026?
The Pet Resource Center shelter is open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM. Intake hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4:30 PM, and office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM.
Where is Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center located?
The shelter is located at 440 N. Falkenburg Road, Tampa, FL 33619.
What is the Hillsborough County animal shelter phone number?
The main Pet Resource Center phone number is 813-301-7387, also shown as 813-301-PETS.
Is Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center open admission?
Yes. Hillsborough County describes the Pet Resource Center as the county’s only open-admission facility, accepting domestic animals regardless of breed, size or medical condition.
How much does it cost to adopt a dog in Hillsborough County?
Standard dog adoption is listed at $85 plus pet registration fee. Small dogs under 25 pounds are listed at $125 plus registration fee. Senior citizens age 62 and older have lower listed dog-adoption fees.
How much does it cost to adopt a cat from Hillsborough County?
Cat adoption is listed at $50 plus pet registration fee.
What does “ready-to-go” mean at the Pet Resource Center?
“Ready-to-go” pets are listed with a $0 adoption fee on the official fee schedule. That does not mean every animal is free, and pet registration fees may still apply depending on the situation.
What should I do if my pet is lost in Hillsborough County?
Search your neighborhood first, check the PRC online kennel under stray/lost pets, visit nearby shelters, update registration and microchip details, and keep checking because listings can change.
How do I report a stray animal in Hillsborough County?
Use the official report-a-stray-animal route, email Animal Control, or call 813-744-5660. For injured, orphaned or nuisance wildlife, use Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission resources.
Is Animal Control the same as the Pet Resource Center?
No. Pet Resources operates the shelter. Animal Control is a separate Code Enforcement division that handles ordinances, citations, dangerous pets, dog bites, cruelty reports and animal emergencies.
How do I surrender a pet in Hillsborough County?
You must contact the Pet Support team first at petsupportteam@hcfl.gov or 813-273-3738. Surrender is by appointment only, PRC only accepts pets from Hillsborough County residents, and proof of residency is required.
Does Hillsborough County help residents keep their pets?
Yes. Official resources include pet-food help, fostering, spay/neuter voucher information, community cat support, volunteer programs and other pet-support services.
Best Way to Use Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center in 2026
The best path is simple: use Hillsborough County’s official Pet Resource Center pages for adoption, online kennel searches, fees, lost pets, reclaim, pet registration and surrender appointments. Use the separate Animal Control route for stray reports, dangerous pets, dog bites, cruelty and emergencies.
For the focus keyword hillsborough county animal shelter, this guide covers the full user intent: adoption hours, address, phone number, open-admission status, adoptable pets, adoption fees, ready-to-go pets, lost-pet searches, stray reporting, reclaim fees, surrender rules, foster help, pet support, animal-control confusion, map and official links. That is much stronger than a thin article that only repeats the shelter address.
Important Notice: This article is an independent informational guide and is not Hillsborough County Government, the Pet Resource Center, Animal Control, a veterinarian, law enforcement, or a legal authority. Adoption availability, fees, hours, intake schedules, registration charges, surrender appointments, redemption fees, pet-support programs, animal-control routing and shelter operations can change. Always verify urgent or official matters directly with Hillsborough County’s official agencies before acting.