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From The Editor
Greetings, everyone!
This is fire season in Florida. There have been
about 1,100 wildfires in the state so far this year.
Latest news reports are warning us all about the dry
conditions, saying the whole state is a "tinder box."
Clearly, it's time to start getting our evacuation plans
in place -- you know, the same ones we use for
hurricane season -- so that both the human and animal
members
of our families stay safe and sound.
The United States Search and Rescue Task Force
has put together some good info about preparing for
disasters, such as wildfires, when you have pets. The
material is applicable to both Florida residents and
visitors and is worth a quick
read: Pets
and Disasters.
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We continue to add and revamp features on
FloridaPets.net. First of all, we're excited to announce
the opening of the Paw
Patch Gift Shoppe, a little FloridaPets.net store
offering goodies
bearing the FloridaPets.net logo -- and other wonderful
designs to come -- hopefully from some of our artistic
readers! A portion of the proceeds from every sale
made in April,
May or June, 2004 will
go to the
Florida Dachshund Rescue, Inc.
If you are involved with an animal rescue, and
would like your group to be considered as a
benefactor of future quarterly sales from the Paw
Patch,
please write to
WebMistress.
Next, we're getting so many wonderful
photos, we've decided to increase our Pet of the Month
feature to Pet of the Week. We've also added "The
Florida Animal News Nook", a
feature exclusive to FloridaPets.net. We find the latest
news stories about animals in Florida and pass them on
to you.
Please check out all the new stuff and let us know
what you think.
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In this month's issue, we feature a lovely,
pet-friendly bed & breakfast getaway,
a couple of fun April events, including an Easter bonnet
parade just for dogs, a photo of a English "bully" and
a book penned by his human companion, a few travel
tips and more.
We hope you enjoy this issue of the NewsPetter.
Please pass the word about FloridaPets.net and write
us with any 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 out on
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.
You can read the entire issue online by clicking
here...
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Featured Pet-Friendly Activities |
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April "Hop'nins"
By Patricia Collier
A couple of fun things to do with your pet
this month.
Polk County SPCA Pets on Parade
PetWalk
The annual Pets on Parade event will be held in
Lakeland Saturday, April 17, from 8 a.m. to around
noon. The photo above is from last year's event.
This activity features a 3-mile walk around
beautiful Lake Hollingsworth, which goes right through
the
center of Lakeland. The area is a bird watcher's
paradise and sources say many of the buildings
surrounding the lake were designed by Frank Lloyd
Wright, making the view spectacular in more than one
way.
Proceeds will go to the Polk County
SPCA. Activities & entertainment will include:
- Complimentary Bow Wow Breakfast by Cales for
the Connoisseur
- Caricatures & souvenir photos of walkers and pets
- HomeAgain Microchips installed by SPCA vets for
only $25
- Pet vaccines & flea control administered by SPCA
vets
- Nail trimming and ear cleaning for $10
- Canine and human massages
- SPCA pets on hand for adoption
- Breed rescue clubs & Helping Hands Farm Animals
- Best Dressed Pet contest
- Air Canines Frisbee show
- Imperial Polk Obedience Club demonstration
- Benson's Canine Cookies, The Doggie Bag, & more.
- Free drinks for you and "Frosty Paws" for your
Dog
Top Prizes include a 4-night stay at the Sheraton
Sand Key Resort, a 20" color TV from Badcock's, a hot
air balloon ride for two from Fantasy of Flight, and
tickets to Busch Gardens, Disney and Sea World.
Walk individually or form a "pack" of 3 or more to
raise even more money for the animals, have more fun,
and qualify for the "Leader of the Packs" team prize in
addition to individual prizes. Pets are welcome, but not
required. Walk only the distance that is comfortable
for you and your pet.
To get there, take I-4 from Tampa or Orlando and
exit at Lakeland. State Road 37 has several streets
leading to the lake. For more information, contact the
Event Chairman, Mary Stephens, at:
maryspca @ tampabay.rr.com or check out Polk County
SPCA.
(Note: Type the email address without the
spaces we insert to prevent spammers from harvesting
email addresses.)
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Satellite Beach Bow Wow Easter
Bonnet Parade
Bring your dog dressed in his or her finest Easter
bonnet to the Satellite Beach Dog Park Saturday, April
10 at 2 p.m.
There will be prizes for various hat "décor"
categories and a goody bag for all who participate! The
photo above shows one little Dachshund who is more
than ready
to strut her stuff!
Although there is no entry fee for the event, the
usual park fees ($2 for up to 2 people with 3 dogs and
$3 for more than 2 people or more than 3 dogs) and
entry requirements (up to date shots, tags, etc.) will
apply.
The dog
park is located at Satellite Beach Sports & Recreation
Park, next to the public library on Jamaica Boulevard.
The facility features a 6' fenced area on 1.5 acres next
to a natural habitat area, a double-gated security
entrance area, separate fenced small-dog area, tables
and benches under shade trees, memorial brick path,
dog-wash and drinking water areas, dog toys,
playground equipment, fire hydrants, waste disposal
stations, parking and restrooms.
For more information, contact
Kerry Stoms at
kstoms @ satellitebeach.org or check out
Satellite Beach Dog Park.
(Note: Type the email address without
the spaces we insert to prevent spammers from
harvesting email addresses.)
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Featured Pet-Friendly Vacation |
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A Big Boof and Meow for This Bed &
Breakfast!
By Patricia Collier
While more and more motels and hotels are allowing
pets, it's not yet common for bed & breakfast facilities
to welcome our companion animals. However, The
Lemmon Drop Inn in Winter Haven
breaks with
tradition.
"We have to allow pets," chuckled Lynn
Lemmon,
who
owns The Lemmon Drop with her husband, Jack, "After
all, we have two Greyhounds and six cats ourselves!"
The inn, built in 1903, features three rooms, each with
their own
entrance to a pleasant sun porch. You can reserve
the "Hemingway Room", the "Cat Room" or the "Ben
Hogan Room" -- each has its own distinct
personality. Relax with a continental breakfast in the
inn's
morning room or around the swimming pool (pictured
below), landscaped
in traditional Key West style.
There are no nightly pet fees or deposits and no
restrictions as to size, type or number of pets allowed
at The Lemmon Drop Inn.
"We had some English ladies visit recently," Lynn
said, "and they said they thoroughly enjoyed all the
animals here."
Lynn refers to their crew as "the livestock" and said
they are happy to share their love of animals
with like-minded guests. Rates are reasonable: $65 to
$100,
with special rates for extended stays.
Winter Haven is located in Central Florida, not far from
Cypress Gardens. The attraction was closed recently
for lack of
attendance, but the new owners of Cypress Gardens
are
promising
to "rejuvenate and reopen", adding a
new water park and more rides.
The facility will even get a new name, Cypress
Gardens Adventure Park, and it's scheduled to reopen
this summer. If you'd like to keep up to date on the
progress, keep checking out Cypress
Gardens.
Winter Haven is located between Orlando and Tampa
Bay just south of I-4. To get to The Lemmon Drop Inn,
take exit 23 off Interstate 4 and go south on 27. Turn
right on 17/92 and take 17 left into Winter Haven to
Ave. I NW. Turn right and the Inn is the house on the
right.
For more information about The Lemmon Drop Inn, or to make reservations, click here... »
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From Our Readers |
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"OK, Santa, fork over the treats, or else!"
The thing about English Bulldogs is they remind us
of a grumpy relative. However, Dozer, pictured here, is
really just a softie. He's about ten months old and
keeps his human companion inspired.
""Dozer is my muse, and sometimes he has to put
on his thinking cap to help me with my writing," said Dr.
Dana Thomas, Associate Dean of Liberal
Arts, North Campus Florida Community College.
"In
this picture, he grabbed the first thing he
saw in December, thus the Santa hat!"
Dr. Thomas is writing a book called, "Paws and
Smell the World: What We Learn From Our Dogs."
She sent us an excerpt called "Waiting for the
Blue Fairy" and we're going to share it now with you,
our treasured NewsPetter subscribers.
"I hope this will peak your readers' curiosity about
my
writing and this upcoming book which will feature an
accompanying musical CD about -- you
guessed it -- dogs!" said Dr. Thomas.
So, FloridaPets.net NewsPetter readers, you get
the chance to read a bit of this future best-seller first,
before
Dr. Thomas and Dozier get really famous and snooty!
To enjoy "Waiting for The Blue Fairy", follow the link
given below and if you'd like to provide feedback to Dr.
Thomas, or send Dozier fan mail, you may write them at
dathomas @ fccj.edu.
(Note: Type the address without the
spaces we insert to prevent spammers from harvesting
email addresses.)
Waiting for The Blue Fairy »
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Travel Tips and Facts |
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FloridaPets.net found a neat site that answers
questions like, "How far is it from City A to City B?"
Here's a mileage chart from the
Florida Department of Transportation which will tell
you the distance to and from 112 cities in the sunshine
state. Handy for both residents and vacationers.
Bob O. of Ontario jotted us a nice note,
complimenting the site and suggesting we remind our
readers that animals, like children, should never ride in
the front seat of a vehicle if a passenger-side air bag
has been installed.
"The experts tell you this is important only if your
animal is unsecured," Bob said, "but I personally don't
want an air bag exploding into my dog, even if he's in
his harness."
Editor's Note: We couldn't agree more -- rig up
your dog's harness in the back seat.
On a humorous note (well, you had to be there!)
Judy Prater of Daytona Beach recalls the time she
and
her Great Dane, Ludlow, were taking their last walk
before bedtime at a motel in south Florida. Ludlow was
quietly going about his routine when a car entered
the parking lot close to the patch of grass where Judy
and
Ludlow were standing, its headlights revealing the big
guy "doing his
biz"
in an empty, open cooler someone had set out by their
car.
"I emptied the cooler, took it back to my room and
cleaned it
with disinfectant," Judy said, "then took it back and put
it where I
found it since I didn't know who it belonged to."
Judy's tip for traveling with pets? "I learned it's a
smart idea to carry along a flashlight so you can always
see
what your pet is up to!" she laughed.
Do you have a handy tip about traveling with pets?
Send it to
WebMistress and we'll share it here with other
readers of the NewsPetter.
Click here for our pet-friendly vacation accomodations directory... »
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Casting Call |
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Here at FloridaPets.net, we want to give everyone a
chance to show off their beloved companions.
If you haven't already done so, send your stories
and/or photos to
WebMistress. Depending on which you are
submitting, put "Story" or "Photo" or "Story and Photo"
in the subject line of your email.
NOTE: Please do NOT send stories as
attachments. Either type the story in a text editor,
then copy and paste the story into your emails, or type
the story directly into the body of your emails. You
may send photos as attachments. Thank you for your
submissions!
Check out our list of Florida animal rescues...find a pal today! »
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Our Special Sponsors |
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We are thrilled with Syn-flex and think you will be
too, if you give it a try. To read more about Syn-flex
and our experience with it, visit FloridaPets.net Product Picks.
Syn-flex normally sells for up to $30.00 a bottle
and, from what we've seen, around $25.00, including
shipping, on eBay. We've made a special bulk purchase
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try Syn-flex for your dog or cat, you can order securely
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Your total satisfaction is important to us and so, if
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* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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Realtor®
for Pinellas County and the Gulf Beaches
area.
Consider making
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The FloridaPets.net Paw Patch Gift
Shoppe is Now Open
We've got lots of cool things like this
canvas
"Tote-it-all-over-the-place" tote bag, with a very
colorful
FloridaPets.net logo adorning the front and back. This
is a perfect way to carry goodies for you
and your pet as you head off to the dog park,
obedience class and more.
For more fun FloridaPets.net stuff, click on the link
below to visit the
Paw Patch. And remember: a portion of the proceeds
go to a Florida animal rescue group who will appreciate
your support.
The FloridaPets.net Paw Patch Gift Shoppe »
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