ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — A local animal shelter is urgently seeking funds to purchase a new transport van following a crash on Wednesday that left them without a critical resource.
The incident occurred on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge when a Friends of Strays Inc. vehicle, carrying 17 dogs and cats, encountered a mechanical failure, resulting in a collision with a concrete barrier.
According to a shelter representative, two staff members sustained minor injuries in the accident. A veterinarian assessed the animals involved, finding them all unharmed except for one puppy, which suffered a broken leg and is currently undergoing treatment.
Without the van, the organization faces significant challenges, as transportation is vital to their mission of rescuing animals.
Credit: Friends of Strays Animal Shelter
“We are incredibly relieved that our employees and the animals in the van are safe. Our gratitude goes out to the first responders who arrived swiftly to manage the situation,” expressed Dara Worthington, CEO of Friends of Strays. “Our immediate focus is on the injured puppy’s recovery and replacing our van. It is essential for our lifesaving operations, and we need to get back on the road as soon as possible.”
Friends of Strays collaborates with 26 different organizations across the state, many of which rely on their transport services to relocate animals facing euthanasia from one shelter to another.
In 2025 alone, they reported that nearly 900 cats and dogs out of the 1,700 pets they have helped were transported in the van.
“We have a long way to go to be able to purchase a new vehicle, but our community has already begun rallying behind us. We’re so grateful to everyone who has already donated what they can to help get us a new van so we can continue saving lives across the state,” said Dara Worthington, Friends of Strays CEO.
Friends of Strays Animal Shelter is the oldest no-kill animal shelter located in St. Petersburg.
If you would like to learn more about how you can help out, you can do so here.
