Pinellas County Animal Welfare Organizations Partner to Reunite Lost Pets with their Owners

Starting July 1, people who find stray dogs and cats should transport the animal to Pinellas County Animal Services at 12450 Ulmerton Road in Largo. Owners who need to surrender a pet will be directed to SPCA Tampa Bay, located at 9099 130th Ave. N. in Largo.

Previously, stray dogs or cats could be transported to a number of animal welfare agencies in Pinellas County, making it difficult for an owner to locate a lost pet. In 2013, a Return to Owner Task Force was formed to analyze the processes that address lost and stray pets.

The number of stray animals taken to the county’s four largest animal welfare agencies has decreased by 21 percent over the past four years. However, the percentage of animals returned to their owners has only increased by 3 percent during the same time frame. The Task Force recommended changing to a centralized housing system and standardizing the information stored about lost pets to be more complete and accurate. 

“The Return to Owner Task Force found that the previous process for stray animals was inefficient and confusing for people who were looking for their lost pet,” said Doug Brightwell, Pinellas County Animal Services bureau director. “Having one place to look for a lost pet will greatly reduce the stress pet owners experience when looking for their missing pet. We expect it to have a positive impact on the number of animals who are reunited with their owners.”

People who find a stray dog or cat and have the ability to care for it are asked to notify Animal Services so it can place the pet’s information in its system for owners who are looking for their pet. Any stray dogs or cats found after Animal Services’ operating hours can be taken to one of its emergency clinic partners, which will accept and care for the animal until Animal Services can transport the animal to its facility.

People who find injured stray pets that are not cats or dogs (such as pigs, rabbits or ferrets, and injured wildlife, including squirrels, owls and raccoons) should continue to take the animal to SPCA Tampa Bay for care. SPCA Tampa Bay’s animal transport services for injured wildlife and pets will also continue.

As Animal Services becomes the primary point for lost pets, SPCA Tampa Bay becomes the primary resource for pet owners who need to surrender their pets. Starting July 1, any pet owner in Pinellas County that needs to surrender their pet should make an appointment with SPCA Tampa Bay by calling (727) 586-3591.

“In making changes, we wanted to support both owners who need to be reunited with their missing pet and owners who may no longer be able to care for their pet,” said Martha Boden, CEO of SPCA Tampa Bay. “These changes should have a positive impact on the animals in Pinellas County and their owners.”

Pinellas County Animal Services, SPCA Tampa Bay, Humane Society of Pinellas and Pet Pal Animal Shelter uniformly track information about the pets and wildlife in their care and work collaboratively to identify ways to make a positive impact on Pinellas County’s lost, homeless and unwanted pets. The 2016 Pinellas County Animal Report released on June 8 showed a countywide decrease in shelter intake, a drop in shelter euthanasia and an increase in the live release rate. 

For more information, visit Animal Services’ website at pinellascounty.org/animalservices or SPCA Tampa Bay’s website atwww.spcatampabay.org.

Pinellas County Animal Services is located at 12450 Ulmerton Road in Largo. Regular hours of operation are Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., with the adoption center closing at 5:30 p.m. Saturday hours are 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. and services include adoptions. Rabies vaccinations are administered on Thursdays from 1 – 4 p.m. The facility is closed on all Pinellas County government holidays.

For information on how to adopt, donate or volunteer, join Pinellas County Animal Services on Facebook, visitwww.pinellascounty.org/animalservices or call (727) 582-2600.