Where can I find affordable veterinary care in Tampa?

Is the shelter hospital open to everyone?

Most people assume a shelter’s clinic is for shelter animals. This one is for the community. The Humane Society of Tampa Bay opened its animal hospital in 2012 to give the public an affordable option for pet care, and in 2014 it became Florida’s first non-profit animal hospital accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association, which the shelter describes as the gold standard for the industry.

Because it is a non-profit, the money goes back into the shelter. Bringing your own pet in for care supports the homeless ones.

What does the hospital do?

Three groups of service, in the shelter’s own words.

Wellness and preventive care. Routine exams, vaccinations and microchipping.

Diagnostics and treatment. In-house diagnostics and treatment for illnesses, injuries and ongoing conditions.

Surgery. Spay and neuter, soft tissue surgery and more, with dental services alongside.

The spay and neuter page covers the clinic’s published fees for that work, and the vaccinations page covers shots.

How do I get an appointment?

By phone, on 813.870.3304, for everything except vaccines. Only vaccine appointments can be booked online; every other inquiry is over the phone. The hospital no longer takes walk-ins.

Drop-off and pick-up run in two windows, 5:30 to 6:30 AM and 2:00 to 3:45 PM, and the shelter asks that you arrive inside them. Some wellness visits and surgical procedures take a non-refundable deposit, applied to the invoice on the day. And expect a wait: the shelter says plainly that affordable prices and individual care mean high volume.

What are the hours, and where is it?

Dogs on a non-retractable leash and cats in a carrier, for every visit.

Is there help if money is the problem?

The shelter runs a voucher programme for qualifying Hillsborough County residents, applied for through the hospital page, and a vaccine special on Monday to Thursday. The keep your pet page gathers the rest of the help, from the free food pantry to rehoming support, for anyone trying not to give a pet up.

What about after hours?

The hospital is closed on Sunday and overnight. Its page points to after-hours emergency care resources, which is where to look before an emergency rather than during one.