Dear Friends,
At the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, every rescued animal, every family kept together, and every life changed begins with compassion. Thanks to your support, this year has been one of growth, impact, and hope for pets and the people who love them. Through affordable veterinary care, pet food assistance, humane education, behavior support, adoptions, and community outreach, we are helping families keep their pets safe, healthy, and loved.
This year also marked an exciting new chapter through our merger with the Humane Society of Pinellas. Together under one mission, we are strengthening programs, expanding our reach across Tampa Bay, and creating greater access to lifesaving services. With locations in Tampa and Clearwater, our combined campuses helped save more than 12,000 animals last year, reflecting the power of collaboration and community support.
We also continue investing in the future of animal welfare. The Hillsborough campus began a 10,000-square-foot Animal Hospital expansion to increase access to affordable veterinary care. At the Pinellas campus, we added more dog housing, updated the medical facility, and are building a working cat enclosure to help more feral cats. Every day, we see the impact firsthand: families keeping beloved pets during difficult times, animals receiving lifesaving treatment, and thousands of pets finding comfort, care, and second chances.
Thank you for believing in our mission and making this work possible. Together, we are building a more humane Tampa Bay where every animal is treated with kindness and every family has the support they need to care for the pets they love.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Sherry Silk, CEO, Humane Society of Tampa Bay
The following statistics and information reflect operations and impact from HSTB’s Hillsborough campus only. The merger with Humane Society of Pinellas was not finalized until January 2, 2026 and data from the Pinellas campus are not included in this report.
1,358,112
Bowls of free pet food were given to struggling families to keep pets in their homes
223,357 Volunteer hours were donated to the animals
4,567 Children enjoyed HSTB Humane Education programs HumaneSocietyTampaBay.org NUMBER OF
Shelter & Adoptions
Compassion in Action: Supporting Pets Through Challenging Times
Animal shelters nationwide have faced unprecedented challenges this year, and the Humane Society of Tampa Bay has felt that impact firsthand. With economic uncertainty affecting so many, we—like other shelters—are seeing a growing number of families struggling to care for their pets, making the decision to adopt even more difficult.
Recognizing the financial pressures many pet owners are facing, we’ve also expanded support initiatives to help keep pets in homes and make adoption more accessible. From providing free heartworm prevention to sending adopters home with essential supplies like harnesses and leashes, we’re working to remove barriers wherever we can. For pets who have been waiting more than 30 days, we’ve offered fee-waived adoptions along with six months of free Heartgard, helping more animals get the fresh start they deserve.
We are incredibly thankful for our compassionate community, whose continued support allows us to do this lifesaving work. Even in uncertain times, your generosity and care for the animals make all the difference.
After months as the shelter’s longest resident, Simba found his forever home with a group of roommates who loved his calm nature and perfect manners.
10,631 pets adopted 715 pets reunited with their families
7,850 stray animals given refuge and care at HSTB’s shelter
4,129 pets taken in from people who could no longer care for them
Sue was rescued from an interstate where she was spotted trying to cross. She was rescued by Tampa Fire Rescue, brought to HSTB, and adopted two weeks later.
Ramona
came to HSTB feeling dejected and was covered in scabies. After receiving full treatment and lots of care from our team, she was adopted by an experienced pig mom who couldn’t wait to love her for all her days.
Phoenix
was surrendered to HSTB at 10 years old. Like many seniors, he was overlooked for months as younger cats went home. Finally, the perfect family came for a visit and left with him in their arms.
Cherry Blossom
was born at HSTB after her mother was surrendered to the shelter in full-term pregnancy. Cherry Blossom, her mom, and her sibling hedgehogs thrived in HSTB’s care then found loving homes.
spent 4 months at the shelter before meeting the loves of his life.
Kuvo
Shelter Medicine
Healing Beyond the Basics: Advanced Care for Animals in Need
At the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, shelter medicine goes far beyond routine care. While spay and neuter surgeries remain a critical part of our lifesaving work, our medical team also provides specialized treatments and complex surgeries for animals facing serious medical challenges. In 2025 alone, HSTB performed 6,202 sterilization surgeries and 586 specialty procedures, giving thousands of animals a second chance at a healthier future.
Every day, our team treats animals suffering from conditions many would consider overwhelming—from severe cases of demodex and scabies to broken bones that went untreated for years. In some cases, amputations are necessary to end chronic pain and give an animal the opportunity to live comfortably and thrive. No matter the circumstance, our goal is always the same: to relieve suffering and provide every animal with the best possible chance at a happy, healthy life.
Through expert medical care, compassion, and dedication, HSTB continues to step in for animals who have nowhere else to turn. These lifesaving efforts not only heal injuries and illnesses, but also restore hope for the animals and families who depend on us.
6,202
Spay/neuter surgeries performed on homeless pets entering the shelter
586
Specialty surgeries performed at the shelter on homeless pets to improve the quality of their lives and, in some cases, to save their lives
Trooper was brought to HSTB with a leg so badly injured it could not be saved. After recovery, Trooper was undeterred by being a tripod and quickly found a home.
Dawn, was abandoned and struck by a car. Thankfully, a kind passerby found her and rushed her to HSTB. Damaged beyond repair, HSTB amputated her leg. This didn’t stop her from quickly finding a loving home.
Animal Hospital
Care Within Reach: Expanding Access to Veterinary Services
In 2025, the Humane Society of Tampa Bay’s Animal Hospital provided care for an incredible 44,991 animals, continuing the mission to make veterinary care accessible and affordable for every family in our community. We understand that rising costs can make pet care feel overwhelming, which is why our low-cost veterinary services are designed to ensure pets receive the medical attention they need without families having to face impossible financial decisions. HSTB also works closely with pet owners to find solutions when additional financial assistance is needed, helping families navigate difficult circumstances while keeping their pets healthy and at home. Every animal deserves quality care, and every family deserves support when they need it most.
Looking ahead, 2026 marks an exciting milestone for the Animal Hospital with the completion of our 10,000-square-foot expansion. This newly expanded Claude & Lydia Melli Animal Hospital will allow us to serve even more animals, expand access to critical veterinary services, and continue meeting the growing needs of Tampa Bay’s pets and the people who love them.
Luna
Luna was surrendered to HSTB after years of painful glaucoma and severe eye infections left her blind and suffering. Through HSTB’s Save A Pet Medical Fund, she received the surgery needed to remove her painful eyes. Today, Luna is living happily pain-free.
Cindy Lou
came to the Animal Hospital so her owners could do what’s best for her health by having her spayed. The Hospital provides affordable spay and neuter services for owned pets, an essential resource for the community.
28,198 wellness patients
13,286 surgery patients
12,465 spay/neuter surgeries 821 specialty surgeries
Poppi
Poppi, a 4-month-old kitten, injured her eye while getting into mischief. When her family couldn’t afford treatment due to financial hardship, HSTB’s Save A Pet Medical Fund covered the cost of care, sending Poppi home healthy and healing.
Spay / Neuter
A Lifesaving Impact: The Importance of Spay and Neuter
Spay and neuter programs remain one of the most effective ways to improve animal welfare and reduce the strain on shelters and communities. In 2025, the Humane Society of Tampa Bay performed an incredible 18,667 sterilization surgeries across our programs, including 12,465 procedures through our Animal Health Center (including 3,432 feral cats), and 6,202 surgeries for shelter animals in our care.
These efforts are about far more than numbers—they are about creating healthier lives for animals while helping prevent unwanted litters that contribute to overcrowded shelters. Spaying and neutering can reduce the risk of certain cancers and medical conditions, improve quality of life, and lessen behaviors that can lead to pets being surrendered or abandoned.
For community cats, these programs play a critical role in controlling population growth humanely and reducing the number of vulnerable animals living on the streets. For families and shelters alike, accessible spay and neuter services help ease the burden on already stretched resources, prevent suffering, and build a healthier, more sustainable future for animals across Tampa Bay.
12,465
spay/neuter surgeries at the animal hospital
Better For Pets
Research shows that pets who’ve been sterilized live longer, healthier lives
6,202
spay/neuter surgeries at the shelter
Better For Shelters
Spaying and neutering helps to prevent unwanted litters, eases the burden of overpopulation in shelters, and reduces euthanasia rates
In 2025, HSTB cared for thousands of nursing mothers and orphaned kittens (see page 13). Increased community participation in spay and neuter programs would significantly reduce the number of unwanted animals entering the shelter system.
Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return
Protecting
Community Cats Through TNVR
Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) is one of the most effective and humane ways to manage community cat populations while improving the lives of outdoor cats. Through this program, free-roaming cats are humanely trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and safely returned to their outdoor homes. Socialized cats and kittens that can thrive indoors are often brought into shelters to be adopted into loving homes.
TNVR helps address the root cause of cat overpopulation by preventing future litters, reducing shelter overcrowding, and lowering euthanasia rates. The program also improves cats’ health and safety by reducing disease transmission, fighting, roaming, and mating-related injuries. At the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, TNVR remains a vital part of our lifesaving mission to create a more humane future for community cats and the community as a whole.
200,000 estimated feral and community cats live in the greater Tampa Bay area alone.
It Works
TNVR stabilizes cat populations immediately by stopping the breeding cycle, leading to a gradual, natural decline in numbers over time.
89,450 feral cats have received TNVR services at HSTB since the program launched in 2008.
Improved Public Health
Vaccinating feral cats creates a buffer zone of vaccinated animals between wildlife and humans which helps reduce the risk of infectious disease.
Feral/community cats are brought to HSTB by volunteer trappers to receive TNVR and ear-tipping—the universal sign that a cat has been sterilized. Semi-social cats enter HSTB’s Working Cat program and are adopted to families with barns, warehouses, and other outdoor spaces that need rodent control or animal companionship.
Community Support
Stronger Together: Expanding Community Support for Pets and Their People
In 2025, the Humane Society of Tampa Bay made it a priority to ensure more people than ever were aware of the vital resources available to help keep pets with the families who love them. As economic challenges like furloughs and financial uncertainty affected our community, we stepped up our efforts to be there for both animals and the people who care for them.
Through programs like our Pet Pantry and Animeals, we’ve been able to provide essential food and supplies to families facing hardship, helping ensure pets remain healthy and at home where they belong. Our low-cost veterinary hospital services have also played a critical role, offering accessible care so pet owners don’t have to choose between their finances and their animal’s well-being.
During times of economic strain, HSTB remained committed to supporting our community— working every day to keep pets and their families together. Because when we support people, we protect the animals they love.
Animeals
For homebound and elderly citizens who are unable to travel to the shelter, HSTB delivers monthly supplies of pet food.
Pet Pantry
For Tampa Bay citizens struggling to care for their pets, HSTB offers free pet food and supplies at the shelter twice a week.
Core Vaccinations
HSTB’s Animal Hospital offers core vaccinations at a special price for families needing preventative care for their pets.
Veterinary Care
HSTB’s Animal Hospital offers affordable, full-service, veterinary care and spay/neuter services to the public.
Animeals recipients receive monthly supplies of pet food so they can keep and care for their treasured companions.
HSTB’s Pet Pantry is open twice a week at both shelter campuses with free pet food and supplies for families in need.
Animal Rescue
Answering the Call for Animals in Need
Every day, the Humane Society of Tampa Bay steps in to help animals with nowhere else to turn. When people find animals they cannot safely bring to the shelter themselves, our rescue team responds—going directly into the community to save animals in dangerous or vulnerable situations. From mother dogs giving birth alone in backyards, to ducklings trapped in storm drains, to pigs wandering through neighborhoods, no call is ever too unusual when an animal needs help.
These rescues are often urgent, unpredictable, and emotional, but they are a vital part of our mission. By meeting animals where they are and bringing them to safety, HSTB provides the care, protection, and second chance they deserve.
Wall-E
Wall-E was rescued by the HSTB Rescue Team after a man heard tiny cries coming from inside his wall. The team carefully cut an opening and safely pulled out the mischievous little kitten— crisis averted!
BEFORE AFTER
Hermes was tied to a crate and abandoned next to a dumpster. A Good Samaritan saw him and called our Rescue Team who went and got him right away. He was extremely emaciated and sad but blossomed in HSTB’s care and was adopted quickly once he was healthy enough to go home (see “after” picture in his new home above).
Chorizo
and her three piglets were found wandering the streets alone before HSTB’s Rescue Team brought them to safety. After a few weeks of care and healing, they were all adopted into loving, experienced homes.
Ava
was in the late stages of pregnancy when she tried to enter an abandoned building to give birth safely. HSTB’s Rescue Team arrived just in time as, later that day, she gave birth to 9 healthy puppies in HSTB’s nursery. Once weaned, the puppies—and Ava— were all adopted into loving homes.
Volunteering
The Heart of HSTB: Our Volunteers
Volunteers are truly the backbone of the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. From walking dogs and socializing cats to assisting in the hospital, supporting events, helping with adoptions, fostering animals, and so much more, volunteers play a role in every department across the organization. Their compassion, dedication, and countless hours of service help make our lifesaving work possible each and every day.
In 2025 alone, volunteers gave an incredible 223,357 hours to the animals and people of HSTB. That level of support is equivalent to 107 full-time staff members—an extraordinary testament to the power of community involvement.
Beyond the numbers, our volunteers provide comfort, enrichment, and love to animals during some of the most uncertain moments of their lives. Whether it’s comforting a nervous shelter pet, helping an adopter find the perfect match, or stepping in wherever help is needed most, their impact is felt in every corner of HSTB. We simply could not do this work without them.
223,357 volunteer hours given to the animals
7,056 active individual and team volunteers
HSTB Volunteers assist in all departments including animal care, animal intake and exam, surgery, adoptions, administration, events, Humane Education, and more.
542 businesses and community organizations that sent teams to HSTB for group volunteering and enrichment activities.
365
Number of days every year that volunteers are present at the shelter helping staff care for the animals; rain or shine, holidays, weekends and work days.
Group Volunteers visit HSTB as part of team-building activities with their businesses and organizations. They support shelter animals by walking dogs, preparing and distributing enrichment treats, and providing plenty of love, attention, and socialization to the shelter animals.
Foster Care
Opening Homes, Saving Lives: The Power of Foster Care
Foster families are an essential part of the HSTB’s lifesaving mission. We rely heavily on compassionate fosters to open their homes to some of our most vulnerable animals—including bottle-fed kittens, puppies and nursing moms, emaciated dogs needing time to regain strength, medical recovery cases, and so much more. These animals often require extra attention, quiet environments, or around-the-clock care that can be difficult to provide in a shelter setting.
Fostering gives the comfort, stability, and individualized care animals need to heal and thrive while waiting for permanent homes. Being in a home environment also helps reduce stress, improve socialization, and allows pets’ true personalities to shine.
Foster care also plays a critical role in supporting the shelter itself. Every animal placed in a foster home frees up valuable kennel space and resources, allowing HSTB to take in and care for even more animals in urgent need. Without our dedicated foster families, many of these lifesaving efforts simply would not be possible.
120,467 foster hours were given to underage animals or those who need extra time to heal.
2,899 animals were nurtured and cared for in HSTB’s foster care program.
The photos at right were sent in by some of HSTB’s dedicated fosters to showcase their labor of love. While underage puppies and kittens are the pets most often fostered, HSTB fosters care for a menagerie of animals including adult dogs and cats, birds, hedgehogs, rabbits, gerbils and more! HSTB is grateful for the incredible foster families who show up for animals in need.
Humane Education
Nurturing Tomorrow’s Animal Advocates!
At the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, we believe building a more compassionate future starts with educating the next generation. In 2025, 4,567 children participated in humane education programs, learning about kindness, empathy, animal welfare, and the important role shelters play in the community.
From Critter Camp to Paws for Literacy and school presentations, these programs give children hands-on opportunities to connect with animals while developing compassion and responsibility. Through engaging activities and meaningful experiences, HSTB inspires young people to become lifelong advocates for animals and their communities.
Humane education is about more than teaching children how to care for pets—it’s about creating a stronger, kinder community for everyone. By investing in today’s youth, HSTB helps shape a future where animals are treated with greater understanding, respect, and compassion.
4,567
children were active in Humane Education programs at the shelter.
13
unique options are offered for children age 2 to 16 and their families.
Critter Camp, No-School Days, field trips and more offer children a safe, enriching environment that fosters compassion for animals.
Paws For Literacy allows children to practice their reading skills in front of a supportive, furry audience.
Programs for toddlers and families foster empathy at a young age and provide fun, family bonding.
Animal Enrichment
Expanding Community Services
Caring for shelter animals goes far beyond providing food, water, and medical treatment. At the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, animal enrichment is an essential part of keeping pets mentally, emotionally, and physically healthy while they wait for loving homes. Enrichment helps reduce stress, builds confidence, encourages positive behaviors, and gives animals the opportunity to simply enjoy being animals.
This lifesaving work is made possible by an incredible community of supporters. Volunteers spend countless hours walking dogs, socializing cats, playing with animals, and giving them much-needed affection and attention. Corporate groups and humane education participants also help create toys, treats, and enrichment activities that keep pets engaged and stimulated throughout their stay.
Programs like Doggie Day Out, Doggie Night Out, and Big Dog Foster placements give dogs a break from the shelter environment and allow them to experience the comfort of a home, even if only temporarily. These experiences not only improve the animals’ well-being but also help staff learn more about their personalities and needs, increasing their chances of finding the right adoptive family.
Every moment spent playing, comforting, walking, or simply sitting with an animal makes a difference. Through enrichment, HSTB is able to provide not just shelter, but compassion, comfort, and hope for every animal in our care.
Doggie Day Out
gives our large, active dogs a much-needed break from the shelter to burn off energy. It also helps staff better understand their personalities and social behaviors, leading to the perfect adoption match.
Cat Companions
enrich the lives of shelter cats and kittens by spending time socializing with them. This one-onone interaction provides much-needed attention for the cats and helps prepare them to adjust more quickly to their new homes and families when they are adopted.
Big Dog Foster
is a program that is vital to the mental health and well-being of large, long-term resident dogs. Dogs that live in a kennel for extended periods can become withdrawn and depressed. Big Dog Fostering allows them to spend their days in a home environment while looking for a forever family.
Merger
Growing Together: Expanding Impact Across Tampa Bay
The merger between the Humane Society of Pinellas and the Humane Society of Tampa Bay marked an exciting new chapter in expanding lifesaving efforts across the region. By bringing the two organizations together, HSTB has strengthened resources, grown community programs, and increased support for animals and families throughout both counties.
Since the merger, adoptions in Pinellas have tripled, giving more animals than ever the opportunity to find loving homes and brighter futures. The expanded reach has also allowed us to better connect with the community through vital support services, including the opening of a new Pet Pantry to help families keep their pets fed and cared for during difficult times.
Building renovations are also underway as we continue transforming the campus to better serve the community. One of the buildings has been converted into a dedicated medical facility, allowing for expanded veterinary services and improved care for animals in need. An affordable veterinary clinic, Humane Education Center, Working Cat barn and dedicated event spaces are also planned. These updates will help create a stronger, more modern resource for both pets and the people who love them.
Together, we are building a future where more animals receive the care they deserve and more families have access to the support they need— all while strengthening the bond between people and pets across Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.
A new, dedicated medical facility on the property allows for expanded veterinary services and improved care for the animals at the shelter.
The Pinellas Pet Pantry is an important service to the community that provides free pet food and supplies to families in need.
The Sjouwerman Adoption Center at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay’s Pinellas campus.
Looking Ahead
Expanding Community Services
As we reflect on everything accomplished this year, one thing remains clear: none of this lifesaving work would be possible without the incredible support of our community. From adoptions and foster care to medical treatment, humane education, rescue efforts, and community outreach, every success story is the result of people coming together to create a better future for animals.
As we move into the next year, the Humane Society of Tampa Bay is focused on growing our impact even further across both Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. In the fall of 2026, the expansion of our Animal Health Center will officially open, creating more space to provide affordable veterinary care and serve more animals in need. In Pinellas, we continue to invest in the future with plans for an affordable veterinary clinic and a dedicated schoolhouse for humane education programs that will address the critical need for accessible veterinary care and help inspire the next generation of animal advocates. We will also build a barn to support a working cat program, creating safe placements and new opportunities for cats who thrive outside of traditional homes.
The need for animal welfare services continues to grow, but so does HSTB’s commitment to meeting that need with compassion, innovation, and care. Whether it’s helping families keep their pets, rescuing animals in crisis, expanding access to medical care, or creating new opportunities for education and adoption, HSTB remains dedicated to serving both animals and the people who love them. Committed to building a stronger, more compassionate future, HSTB looks forward to making an even greater impact in the communities we serve for many years to come.
Above: the Animal Health Center, soon to be the Claude & Lydia Melli Animal Hospital, in the final stages of expansion construction. Below left: Coming soon to Pinellas County, the HSTB Animal Clinic. Below right: A rendering of the future Humane Education Center at the Pinellas Campus.
Statement of Activities
REVENUES & SUPPORT
PUBLIC SUPPORT:
Co ntributions
Grants
In-kind contributions
Special events (net of expenses)
Total public support
PROGRAM:
Product s ales, net of cost of goods sold Program services fees, net of discounts
Other income
Total program
TOTAL REVENUES AND OTHER SUPPORT
EXPENSES
PROGRAM SERVICES:
She lter/Adoption Center
Community Outreach
Animal Health Center
Total Program Services
SUPPORT SERVICES:
Manage ment and general Fundraising and development
Total Support Services
TOTAL EXPENSES
Change in Net Assets Before Other Changes
Other Changes in Net Assets
Inv estment return
Co ntribute net assets - Humane Society of Pinellas
Total Other Changes in Net Assets
Change in Net Assets
Ne
Board of Directors
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Kevin Bischoff
President
Amy Nelson Agliano
Vice President & Governance Chair
Steve Rovner
Treasurer
Michael Neff
Secretary
Sarah Glaser
Member at Large
Executive Leadership
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Sherry Silk
SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Pam Duval
Chief Financial Officer
Ornella Varchi
Chief Advancement Officer
Dr. Karla Bard
Director of Medical Operations
Gretel Harvey
Director of Hospital Operations
Nash McCutchen
Director of Marketing & Design
Stacy Mettinger
Director of Customer Relations
Angel Rodriguez
Director of Shelter Operations
Nate Swan
Senior Director of Operations
Danyelle Van Horn
Director of Employee Engagement
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Scott Arnold
Sierra-Shae Brandt
Robert Brink
Wyatt Castellvi
Mary Crino
Helen Henwood
Guy Mansueto
Morris Massey
Phil Nodhturft, III
Scott Savitt
Scott Sullivan
BOARD EMERITUS
Kim Mahoney
Linda Reitz
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Greg Balasco
Simon Canasi
Mayor Jane Castor
Lisa DeBartolo
Nikki DeBartolo
Danita Dickman
Andrea Gonzmart Williams
Commissioner Ken Hagan
Bobby Harris
Jeannine Hascall
Sandy Murman
Scott Price
Kim Rogers
Cherie Schonbrun
Cathy Smith
Elise Zahn
Mission
The Humane Society of Tampa Bay is dedicated to ending animal homelessness and providing care and comfort for companion animals in need.
Vision
Leading the way because every life counts.™
Core Values
COMPASSION
and respect for all, each other, and animals.
COMMITMENT
to lead the way in animal welfare.
COMMUNITY
Serving the community with optimism and integrity.
HSTB Advancement Department
Ornella Varchi, MBA, CFRE Chief Advancement Officer
813.876.4150 | OrnellaV@hstb.org or Advancement@hstb.org
