Pet Protection For Fireworks Season

Many local communities and professional companies will be setting off fireworks July 4 to celebrate our country’s independence.  But these festivities provide little fun and plenty of danger for pets. Hillsborough County Animal Services reminds pet owners of the following safety tips: DON’T take pets to fireworks displays - public or private! Leave them safely at home. DON’T leave pets unattended inside vehicles (not even with windows cracked) especially during fireworks. DON’T leave pets outdoors during fireworks season. The explosions and sounds often cause them to run into danger, such as traffic, or to hide in dangerous areas, like wheel wells of vehicles. Fear also makes runaway pets more likely to attack. DO keep pet identification tags secure and up-to-date, including change of address for microchips. DO feed and walk your dog early before fireworks begin. Ask your veterinarian about measures to calm your pet. DO create a “safe room” or den for your pet’s comfort with a TV or radio to provide familiar background noise. DO use caution approaching stray or injured pets and report the information to Animal Services.   If pets go missing, owners are advised to search the County animal shelter immediately — online and in person. Operators cannot conduct these searches by phone. Hillsborough County Animal Services will be closed July 3 and 4 in observance of Independence Day and will reopen on Monday, July 6 for all operations.  A limited number of emergency officers will be on call over the holiday, but the shelter itself will be closed to the public at that time. For more information on pet safety or to report animal cruelty and distress, contact Hillsborough County Animal Services at 813-744-5660 or log onto www.hillsboroughcounty.org/animalservices.

The below letter was in the “Letters to the Editor”  section of the Tampa Tribune on June 21, 2009.  It is real folks…please become involved.

                                       Pets in Jeopardy

The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) is deeply disappointed to learn of the impending budget cuts in Hillsborough County. According to County Administrator Pat Bean’s proposal, animal services will be among the departments likely to be the hardest hit.

The proposed budget for 2010 includes the elimination of 26 positions from Hillsborough County Animal Services (HCAS) beginning Oct. 1, and 19 positions for 2011, reducing staff from 118 positions to 65.

The elimination of these positions will have a major impact on pet adoptions, animal cruelty law enforcement capabilities, the ability to support disaster operations and other efforts that are currently in place to reduce the number of homeless pets.

Since May 2007, in a campaign called ASPCA Mission: Orange, the ASPCA has partnered with HCAS, the Humane Society of Tampa Bay and No More Homeless Pets, investing funds and resources to build a collaborative and sustainable model that will provide positive outcomes for animals at risk and curb the needless euthanasia of adoptable dogs and cats in Tampa Bay.

Over the past two years, the hard work of the ASPCA Mission: Orange partner agencies has resulted in increased adoptions, transfers to rescue groups, trap/neuter/return programs for feral cats, increased volunteering, community foster care programs for displaced puppies and kittens, increased spaying/neutering, and community outreach - all programs that will be lost if these proposed budget cuts go into effect.

As a result of the community’s hard work, the euthanasia rate over the last two years has dropped from 74.5 percent to 57 percent, meaning thousands fewer cats and dogs were put to death

Adoptions increased by a staggering 48 percent in 2008 over 2007

And the number of lost pets reunited with their guardians in 2008 increased by 1,588 over the previous year.

But now this progress has been placed in jeopardy.

We urge residents to be a voice for homeless animals and speak out if they want these important life-saving programs to continue. 

ED SAYRES

President, ASPCA 

 

I HAVE 8 RESCUE DOGS  2 ARE JACK RUSSELLS.

I AM OVERWHELMED ,LOOKING FOR A GOOD HOME FOR THEM.

(Martha)

I found this ad on Craigslist and I thought some of you may be interested in it.

 

 

Hello Gals and Guys

As you know I started an online campaign about a month ago to get in contact with local Jack Russell Terrier owners to start a fun day / practice to get new Jack Russell owners and new pups up and running.   I have  to set up the Race Track the following 2 days this summer so we can have racing practice and if there is any interest after racing we can do some trail and locate training for the new dogs and practice for the seasoned dogs.  Hope you all can make one day, or both!!

June 20, 2009  and July 18, 2009 

Held at:  Logans Gate Dog Park

 From 9 a.m until everyone is tuckered out.

 

Please bring the following:

Your terriers favorite toy if they are new to racing.

A leash or crate for your terrier.

$5 to purchase a racing muzzle or bring your own. You can buy them at www.upco.com or I will have all sizes for sale at cost.

A drinking bowl for your pup.

 

NO MORE THAN 2 TERRIERS PER PERSON (Those are park rules)

PLEASE be polite and obey park rules.

All dogs must have current Rabies vaccination.

PLEASE be courteous and polite and if you are not in the next race, please leash or crate your terrier until your turn so all of us can have fun!

 

Logan Gate Dog Park

7374 Monterey Blvd

Tampa, Florida 33625

 

For more info please contact:

 

www.quickfirejacks.com

813-610-8907

 

 

Obedience Classes  

For those who may be interested in Obedience Classes, Donna is starting Registration for the  Summer classes.  Please visit the “Obedience” page that you will see on the left of your screen for more information.   She is a GREAT instructor and you can’t beat the cost!

Hillsborough County Doubles Pet-Friendly Shelters

Hillsborough County Animal Services announced the locations of two additional pet-friendly evacuation shelters today  bringing the total number to four in Hillsborough County.    In addition to Burnett Middle School in Seffner and Sickles High in Tampa, the new additions are Bartels Middle School (9020 Imperial Oak Boulevard) in Tampa, and ShIelds Middle School (15732 Beth Shields Way) in Ruskin.Pet-friendly shelters are located adjacent to Red Cross shelters at these same addresses.   Pet owners must also taking shelter on location (no drop-offs) but in separate quarters.   Pet owners are asked to keep pets rabies vaccination current, bring supplies and carriers whenever possible, and to help care for the pets during their stay.    Dogs, cats, and other “household pets” will be accepted at public pet-friendly shelters (no reptiles, insects or exotics). Pet-friendly shelters are first-come first-served, reservations are not accepted in advance.   Citizens are encouraged to make plans elsewhere and think of public shelters as a last resort –whether they be for people or pets!Accompanied by Animal Services Director Bill Armstrong, Commissioner Rose Ferlita spoke during today’s announcement about the importance of emergency preparedness and the cooperation of community members to comply with the federal Pets Act.   After Hurricane Katrina, legislation was passed requiring communities to make provisions for pets in disasters so that citizens would not risk personal safety in order to remain with their companion animals.As hurricane season approaches, supplies and volunteers are needed now to prepare pet-friendly evacuation shelters in Hillsborough County.    Tax-deductible donations may be made to the County’s local disaster response organization, the non-profit Community of Hillsborough Animal & Agricultural Response Team (CHAART).  Animal lovers who enjoy serving the community are also urged to volunteer for potential pet-shelter duty, and basic training will be provided. For more information on storm preparedness or the County’s pet-friendly shelters, please call 813.744.5660 or log onto the County’s web site.

This group was founded because of my sweet Smiley that was taken from my home.
We are dedicated to helping others find there lost pets.

If you have accounts here please add us to your friends there
Appreciate any help spreading the word.

Thanks Vicki

Missing pets sites posting at
http://www.myspace.com/dogmissingusa

Every wondered about the bench under the pavilion on the small dog side?

 A couple of years ago, Judy Perez (small dog side patron) had inquired about Jack and Cotton on this website. No one apparently knew the whole story.   A month or so ago, Jack Pickens parents found their way to this website and found the post asking about Cotton and their son.  They have kindly given us the story of Jack and his pup, Cotton.  The story is posted below. Read the rest of this entry »