38 THE NEW BARKER
www.TheNewBarker.com
The Hillsborough County Pet Resource 
Center (PRC) is no longer “the pound” 
of years past. It’s now a model of compas-
sion, collaboration and lifesaving success. 
PRC has been recognized as one of the 
nation’s leading open-admission public 
shelters, recording a live outcome rate 
above 90% for cats and dogs year after 
year. Our dedicated team lives this 
mission daily and would love to share it 
with you. 
      Twelve years ago, Hillsborough 
County offered me an opportunity to 
lead a change — to transform an outdat-
ed animal control facility into a true 
community resource that connects pets 
with people. Guided by the county’s “Be 
the Way Home” plan developed by our 
Board of County Commissioners from 
the input of our residents and inspired by 
Best Friends Animal Society’s no-kill 
movement that was sweeping the nation, 
we shifted from enforcement and punish-
ment to partnership and prevention. The 
change wasn’t easy, but the community 
rallied around a shared vision: every pet 
deserves a chance to go home. 
      Along the way, we launched the 
Hillsborough County Pet Resources 
Foundation (HCPRF), a nonprofit that 
gives residents a safe, effective way to sup-
port homeless and unwanted pets in our 
community. With help from hundreds of 
donors 
— 
including Tampa 
Bay 
Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin 
and his wife Mariah, and Sheriff Chad 
Chronister along with his family — the 
foundation became an essential safety net 
for PRC’s growth and innovation, 
enhancing the services of the center. 
Additionally, the Foundation set a new 
standard for community involvement in 
support of pets and other municipal shel-
ters now follow this model.  
      Historically, enforcement and ani-
mal-focused staff was thought to be the 
best way to achieve public sheltering 
goals – turns out this was counterproduc-
tive. To effect real change, community 
involvement 
and 
support 
is 
key. 
 
Reforming a system steeped in decades 
of routine took courage and urgency. So, 
our culture change went deeper than 
rebranding. Renaming “Animal Services” 
to the “Pet Resource Center” reflected a 
new philosophy: treat every pet in our 
care as we would our own and offer the 
services we would want for our own.  
      Not everyone welcomed change. 
Personal attacks and negativity were a part 
of the journey. But through collaboration 
with passionate community advocates 
like Rescue Me Tampa, we turned 
criticism into partnership and became 
a national leader in transparency and 
shelter outcomes. 
by Scott Trebatoski
It’s No Longer the Pound 
 in Hillsborough County
Animal advocate Marissa Marazzi with 
PRC dog Dipper.
State Attorney Suzy Lopez with  
PRC dog Paella.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister 
and wife Nikki DeBartolo with PRC pups.
Photo by Jacqui Silla

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