At Hillsborough County’s Pet Resource Center in Tampa, dogs are panting through record-breaking Florida heat inside kennels with no air conditioning. These are living, breathing animals—some elderly, sick, or vulnerable breeds—being kept in conditions that would be considered inhumane for people, yet are somehow acceptable for pets who have no voice.

Four out of the seven kennel buildings have no AC. That means hundreds of dogs like Ozzy, Waffles, and Madeline—some who have been at the shelter for weeks or even months—are enduring brutal heat that has reached over 100 degrees. Fans, chillers, and ice baths are temporary patches. But they are not a solution.

The shelter says a new, air-conditioned facility is planned within the next 5 to 10 years. But animals suffering today can’t wait a decade. Meanwhile, surrounding counties like Pinellas have already upgraded their shelters to provide AC for every animal in their care. If they can do it, so can Hillsborough.

The community has shown overwhelming compassion—donating fans, volunteering, adopting. But we shouldn't have to crowdsource basic humane standards for a county-run facility funded by taxpayers. Air conditioning isn’t a luxury in Florida. It’s a necessity.

We call on the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners to:

Immediately allocate emergency funds to install temporary or portable AC systems in all non-air-conditioned kennel areas at the Pet Resource Center—especially as summer heat intensifies.

While we support long-term plans for a new shelter, the county must protect the animals it has today. If we can afford sports stadiums and civic beautification projects, we can afford to keep our shelter animals safe from life-threatening heat.

Don’t let another dog suffer in silence. Sign and share to tell Hillsborough County: Humane care can't wait.

Photo: DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Tampa Bay Times