Our little Shortcake has been miffed that we've not used her photo in the NewsPetter lately. So we thought we'd give our doxie a chance to show off her new rose-colored Doggles. They've even got a little rhinestone heart on the left corner of the lense - of which our little diva feels quite deserving!

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In this month's NewsPetter, we feature an Olympic-sized event, a charming get-away nook, a canine who should be the winner of the reality show Top Model, a few pet-related tips and of course, FloridaPets.net's contest! This month you could win delicious doggie cookies in sand, sea and sun-inspired shapes from the now-famous 7 Dogs Tropical Bakery, owned by none other than the canines at FloridaPets.net. Just check the end of the NewsPetter for all the poop on how to enter. And speaking of prizes, congratulations to Debbie Dean of Brunswick, Georgia, and her seven Chihuahuas, Jesse, Keisha, Toby, Dunkin, Tilda, Dingo and Rocky, the winners of last month's contest.

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We hope everyone finds the FloridaPets.net Web site useful and we hope everyone will enjoy this issue of the NewsPetter. Your opinions matters, so please write us with any comments, suggestions or requests. Until next month, thanks for "tailing" along with us and remember our motto:

"They're part of the family, so take them along!"

Patricia Collier
Editor

Special Note: If you cannot see the photographs in this NewsPetter, you are missing a lot of neat stuff! Some of our readers just can't get email in the HTML format that allows them to view pictures and other artwork, so we've come up with this solution:

Olympics are going to the dogs
By Patricia Collier

You can start your dog on his or her way to a gold, silver or bronze medal at Dog Olympics, the latest fundraiser for the Satellite Beach Dog Park. The event, which will help pay for Phase II of improvements at the park, will be held Sunday, March 26, 2006 at 2 p.m. at the Olson Baseball Field on Cinnamon Drive in Satellite Beach.

Dog Olympics is a chance to test your dogs' talent in events such as high jump, obstacle course, cookie catch, and homerun derby. There will also be a raffle and a concession area where dog park personnel will be selling adorable, edible dog greeting cards made of rawhide. You can purchase some for your own pal and mail some to your special dog niece or nephew.

There is a $5 entry fee for the day's activities. Dogs must be leashed and there is a one-dog per adult limit. All humans must show written verification of their dog's current rabies shots and all canines must be wearing their Brevard County animal license tag on their collar, or other county license tag for out of town visitors. For more information, please contact the Satellite Beach Recreation Department at 321-777-8004.

Take a historical break
By Patricia Collier

This month's pet-friendly get-away is Ash Street Inn Bed & Breakfast, located in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island. It is comprised of two homes, one built in 1904, the other in 1880. Together, the compound captures the essence of the old South with updated features to pamper those stopping by for either a quick escape or an extended stay.

Each room has a different themed decor, such as the Oasis, the Hemingway, the Magnolia or the Rose. Wrap-around porches, swings and rocking chairs complete the laid-back atmosphere. If you stay in a ground-floor unit, you can share your visit with your small dog or cat for a $50 non-refundable pet charge.

I personally lived on Amelia Island for several years and this bed and breakfast is well-known for its cheeriness and warmth. It is located in the middle of the historic downtown area. There's plenty to see, quaint shopping experiences, walking tours, lots of terrific restaurants nearby and best of all, the entire island's beaches are all friendly to leashed dogs. This is definitely a vacation spot you'll enjoy.

"Don't hate me because I'm beautiful."

Meet Benji, companion to
Dawn Alves & Maria Calvo of Coral Springs.

Benji, a three-year-old Shih-Tzu, is tres chic. He loves going buh-bye, eating fruit & ice cream & playing with all his toys which are kept in an overstuffed toy box.

Would you like FloridaPets.net to feature your pet(s) in the NewsPetter or as Pet(s) of the Week on the Web site? If so, please email WebMistress. Send 1 or 2 photos of your pet(s) and tell us things like breed, age, sex, personality, likes, dislikes, how you found each other and anything else you would like to share with others. Please type "Submission" in the subject line of your note and send photos in JPG or GIF format.

Senior citizens should not be denied pets in their own homes. Citizens for Pets in Condos helps promote the benefits of pet companionship. The site has recently been updated, including a petition you can sign to help further the cause.

Fido's surgical experience on DVD? It's being done in California and soon in Florida, you'll be able to purchase the DVD from your pet's surgery, seeing just what your vet saw. We'll keep an eye out on this interesting trend.

A La Doggie? A state House committee has approved a bill sponsored by Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, and Rep. Ari Porth, D-Coral Springs that would allow restaurants to welcome Rover and Fido in outdoor dining areas. The bill would arrange for a three-year test program that would allow, not require, restaurants throughout Florida to welcome Rover and Fido in outdoor dining areas. The proposed legislation will be debated during this year's 60-day Legislative session, which began March 7. We'll post updates in next month's NewsPetter.

Clear as mud? One of our readers recently asked us to look into whether or not she was permitted to walk her dog in her Orlando neighborhood if she cleaned up after him as they went along. We contacted the City to inquire and were sent to a Web site with ordinances that read in such a fashion we felt we needed clarification before we could answer our reader. When we inquired with the City about such, we were told it would not be "appropriate" for them to offer a "legal opinion." That's like saying, "We have a speed limit and you'll be fined for exceeding it, but we're not gonna tell you what the speed limit is." We just think ordinances should be easy to understand so it can be easy for people to obey the laws.

Time for the repetitive, subliminal message from FloridaPets.net:
"Doggie pooper scoopers, use them, always, everywhere you go. Good human."

Have a pet-related tidbit, tip or tale? Send it to WebMistress and we'll share it with other readers of the NewsPetter.

Offerings from the FloridaPets.net Paw Patch Shoppe

"We have an 11-year-old, 65-pound lab mix named Max who has really been slowing down due to arthritis. Since we've had him on Syn-flex, he's been running around the dog park like a puppy - thanks so much for a great product!" - Barbra from Tallahassee.

Liquid Syn-flex is a wonderful alternative to harmful arthritis drugs and it's perfect for both pets and people. We carry it in the Paw Patch Shoppe because we use it with our own dogs and have seen how much and how quickly it helps them feel better.

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The Paw Patch also carries Dog Cookies made by the 7 Dogs Tropical Bakery where dogs will beg for treats in all shapes and sizes, such as the tropical cookies we're giving away in our contest below, or canine-related shapes such the bones, paw prints and fire hydrants shown above. We accept all major credit cards and PayPal and you can order online or by phone! Click on the bottle of Syn-flex shown above and visit the Paw Patch Shoppe today.

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MakeMineChocolate.org

Each year, unwanted, former Easter rabbits tragically fill rabbit rescues and humane societies. The goal of the "Make Mine Chocolate!" campaign is to break this cycle of acquisition and relinquishment by educating the public about responsibilities involved in caring for rabbits. To help make their point, this group sells chocolate bunnies - in the form of adorable pins for your jacket or eye-catching magnets for your frig.

Email: webmistress@floridapets.net

Phone: 904-879-9352

Web: http://www.floridapets.net