Tampa Bay Shelters Urge Pet Adoptions Amid Overcrowding; Discounts Offered at Friends of Strays

Friends of Strays in St. Petersburg slashed fees this week. Adult cats cost $25 less. Dogs? Fifty bucks off. The sale runs through the weekend.

Why the rush? Kennels throughout Tampa Bay are bursting at the seams, packed beyond what they can handle. Several spots had to shut their doors to new animals — at least for now.

The no-kill shelter welcomes visitors from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., but only Wednesday through Sunday. Every animal leaves spayed or neutered, shots up-to-date, microchipped, and dewormed.

Dr. Sue Yee Lim teaches at Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. She says go slow if you've got pets already. Start by keeping the new arrival behind closed doors.

"Give them time to warm up to their new surroundings," Lim said, according to Fox 13 News.

This method lets animals sniff each other out and communicate without getting hurt. Try feeding your pet inside a crate — it teaches them that the space means safety.

Got kids? You'll want to know how the animal behaves before you sign papers. Some pets don't do well with certain types of attention.

"Little children are sometimes very affectionate and want to give a big hug," Lim said. "Depending on past trauma that the pet could have, they may take it as, 'Are you attacking me?' So, supervision initially would be important."