Pets

Hillsborough Pet Shelter Renamed In Honor Of County Administrator

With help from a furry friend named Koda, Hillsborough County unveiled the new signs for the Michael S. Merrill Pet Resource Center.

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With help from a furry friend named Koda, Hillsborough County unveiled the new signs for the Michael S. Merrill Pet Resource Center. (Hillsborough County Government)
https://test.patch.com/img/cdn20/users/22976176/20200619/092104/styles/patch_image/public/1w9a8168___19211922100.jpg
With help from a furry friend named Koda, Hillsborough County unveiled the new signs for the Michael S. Merrill Pet Resource Center. (Hillsborough County Government)
https://test.patch.com/img/cdn20/users/22976176/20200619/092104/styles/patch_image/public/1w9a8171___19211956114.jpg
With help from a furry friend named Koda, Hillsborough County unveiled the new signs for the Michael S. Merrill Pet Resource Center. (Hillsborough County Government)
https://test.patch.com/img/cdn20/users/22976176/20200619/092104/styles/patch_image/public/1w9a8161___19212031541.jpg
With help from a furry friend named Koda, Hillsborough County unveiled the new signs for the Michael S. Merrill Pet Resource Center. (Hillsborough County Government)

TAMPA, FL — With help from a furry friend named Koda, Hillsborough County unveiled the new signs for the Michael S. Merrill Pet Resource Center.

The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously this month to name the Pet Resource Center at 440 N. Falkenburg Road, Tampa, after Merrill, who has long championed the county's commitment to animal welfare. Merrill retires as county administrator on June 30.

When Merrill took over as county administrator in 2010, the live-release rates at the county's animal shelter were 50 percent for dogs and 13 percent for cats. Those numbers are now 95 percent for dogs and 88 percent for cats.

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