October 7th was almost Cyrus' last day on earth. Hurricane Milton was rapidly intensifying and had its sights set on the Suncoast. He was at a government-run shelter in rural Florida. All the animals at the shelter were living in outdoor kennels, meaning they would be outside when the storm hit. They had two choices: euthanize their animals or find...

HURRICANE MILTON RELIEF: LIFESAVING SUPERHIGHWAY TAKES FLIGHT! Thanks to Cathy Bissell and BISSELL Pet Foundation, more than 100 adoptable cats and dogs from shelters impacted by Hurricane Milton headed North to facilities in Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio! The transport out of Sarasota Bradenton International Airpo...

We knew we had to act fast... With Hurricane Milton approaching, the team at the Humane Society of Sarasota County (HSSC) mobilized to assist Highlands County Animal Services clear out their shelter. Their kennels are all outdoors, some under cover, but all exposed to the wind, rain and potential flooding. While simultaneously preparing our ow...

Immediately after Hurricane Helene passed, the Humane Society of Sarasota County (HSSC) reached out to our friends at Pasco County Animal Services, knowing their area sustained a heavy impact from the storm. While we were fortunate to only have minor damage, their facility was left without power, creating a critical need to move animals out of...

Just a few hours before Hurricane Helene was set to pass through Sarasota on Thursday, a local resident happened upon a wet and injured cat. She drove to the Humane Society of Sarasota County (HSSC) in hopes we could provide medical care and refuge before the storm. The Storm Rider Team was sheltering in place to care for our shelter animals d...

The night before Hurricane Helene, the Humane Society of Sarasota County (HSSC) welcomed five dogs from a shelter with outdoor-only kennels in a flood zone in the Big Bend area of Florida. Our Executive Director serves on the board of the Florida Association of Animal Welfare Organizations (FAAWO). They requested our aid in the situation, and ...

UPDATE: Rizzo was adopted! The Suncoast News Network (SNN) is featuring an adoptable cat or dog every Wednesday on SNN Morning Edition between 6am-9am and SNN Evening Edition between 5pm-7pm. The segment is called "Charlie's Choice," inspired by SNN Reporter Sydney Roell and her HSSC feline alum, Charlie. This week's star of Charlie's Choice is Riz...

Use this checklist to prepare your pet's essentials in case you need to evacuate. FIND A PET FRIENDLY SHELTER NEAR YOU: • Sarasota County • Manatee County Download PDF File Here

The Suncoast News Network (SNN) is featuring an adoptable cat or dog every Wednesday on SNN Morning Edition between 6am-9am and SNN Evening Edition between 5pm-7pm. The segment is called "Charlie's Choice," inspired by SNN Reporter Sydney Roell and her HSSC feline alum, Charlie. This week's star of Charlie's Choice is Lollipop.

UPDATE: Pippin was transported to Ingham County Animal Control after Hurricane Milton, as part of our disaster relief efforts to make space for animals displaced by the storm. We are so excited for Pippin's renewed adoption opportunity! The Suncoast News Network (SNN) is featuring an adoptable cat or dog every Wednesday on SNN Morning Edition betwe...

UPDATE: Baxter was adopted! The Suncoast News Network (SNN) is featuring an adoptable cat or dog every Wednesday on SNN Morning Edition between 6am-9am and SNN Evening Edition between 5pm-7pm. The segment is called "Charlie's Choice," inspired by SNN Reporter Sydney Roell and her HSSC feline alum, Charlie. This week's star of Charlie's Choice is Ba...

UPDATE: Bella was adopted! The Suncoast News Network (SNN) is featuring an adoptable cat or dog every Wednesday on SNN Morning Edition between 6am-9am and SNN Evening Edition between 5pm-7pm. The segment is called "Charlie's Choice," inspired by SNN Reporter Sydney Roell and her HSSC feline alum, Charlie. This week's star of Charlie's Choice is Bel...

The Suncoast News Network (SNN) is featuring an adoptable cat or dog every Wednesday on SNN Morning Edition between 6am-9am and SNN Evening Edition between 5pm-7pm. The segment is called "Charlie's Choice," inspired by SNN Reporter Sydney Roell and her HSSC feline alum, Charlie. This week's star of Charlie's Choice is Enzo.

UPDATE: Sketch was adopted! The Suncoast News Network (SNN) is featuring an adoptable cat or dog every Wednesday on SNN Morning Edition between 6am-9am and SNN Evening Edition between 5pm-7pm. The segment is called "Charlie's Choice," inspired by SNN Reporter Sydney Roell and her HSSC feline alum, Charlie. This week's star of Charlie's Choice is Sk...

UPDATE: Meeko was adopted! The Suncoast News Network (SNN) is featuring an adoptable cat or dog every Wednesday on SNN Morning Edition between 6am-9am and SNN Evening Edition between 5pm-7pm. The segment is called "Charlie's Choice," inspired by SNN Reporter Sydney Roell and her HSSC feline alum, Charlie. This week's star of Charlie's Choice is Mee...

The Suncoast News Network (SNN) is featuring an adoptable cat or dog every Wednesday on SNN Morning Edition between 6am-9am and SNN Evening Edition between 5pm-7pm. The segment is called "Charlie's Choice," inspired by SNN Reporter Sydney Roell and her HSSC feline alum, Charlie. This week's star of Charlie's Choice is Flora.

UPDATE: Roc was adopted! The Suncoast News Network (SNN) is featuring an adoptable cat or dog every Wednesday on SNN Morning Edition between 6am-9am and SNN Evening Edition between 5pm-7pm. The segment is called "Charlie's Choice," inspired by SNN Reporter Sydney Roell and her HSSC feline alum, Charlie. This week's star of Charlie's Choice is ...

The Humane Society of Sarasota County (HSSC) has had the delight of hosting a handful of participants from Girls Inc. Sarasota's Project Accelerate Program this summer. The program is designed to support young women through their next critical transitions—from high school through college and career. We had participants working across seve...

The Humane Society of Sarasota County (HSSC) is thrilled to share the amazing success of Mega Pet Adoption Weekend, sponsored by Petco Love, Florida Leaders in Lifesaving and BOBS from Sketchers! We joined together with nearly 50 shelters across the state of Florida with the goal of finding 2,000 cats and dogs their forever homes in three days...

At just 11 years old, Autumn is already working to make a difference in her community. She started her own business—Shells for a Cause—making wind chimes, picture frames, and candles using shells she's collected from beaches in southwest Florida. A portion of all her proceeds are donated to charity. HSSC is grateful to be her recent organization of...