Pasco Animal Shelter 'Tremendously Over Capacity'

Tampa Bay area residents hoping to expand their families with a four-legged addition might want to head to Pasco County Animal Service’s Land O’ Lakes shelter.

Overcrowding at the 19640 Dogpatch Lane shelter has prompted the county to offer free adoptions on all dogs over the age of 6 months that happen to weigh 25 pounds or more. Conditions are so cramped the county has run out of crates for dogs and is having to improvise on where to store them.

“We are tremendously over capacity at this time,” said Andrea Ciesluk, animal services’ education coordinator. “We have some great adoption days, but the amount of stray and abandoned animals being brought into the shelter is alarming.“

Ciesluk said the overflow room is overflowing and dogs are being housed in offices.

“We are desperately in need adopters and fosters,” she said. “We are a save 90 percent facility and we can’t do it on our own. We need the community’s help. Please help us help the animals.”

The shelter is open for adoptions from noon until 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. For more information, visit animal services online.

Screenshot from Pasco County Animal Services’ video