Greetings, everyone!

We'd like to welcome our new subscribers and offer a warm welcome back to all our current readers.

Please say howdy to Fred, the newest member of our family. Fred came to us via Florida Basset Rescue. Our sweet, talkative, 8 1/2-year-old boy is wearing a FloridaPets.net custom-designed houndie hat made by Dona Kowalski over at Ears to You. Take a moment and check out Dona's site - tons of cool hats for canines at reasonable prices.

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During some recent online surfing, I found a valuable resource I wanted to pass on to you. The Merck Veterinary Manual offers animal care information on over 12,000 topics with over 1200 illustrations. Although marketed primarily to veterinarians, you can use it to search anything animal related by topic, species, specialty, disease or keyword. You can buy the 2005 edition for $45 or use this 2004 electronic version for zilch, zero.

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In this month's NewsPetter, we feature fun under the big top, a vacation spot touted as "simply whimsical luxury", a lab with a pool fetish (gasp!), a few travel tips, and of course, for NewsPetter subscribers only, the FloridaPets.net's contest!

Speaking of contests, congratulations to Tamie Davern and her fur kids, Nellie & Kiska, of Orlando, who won last month's prize, Carob Dipped Crunchies for dogs from PAWSitively Tasty Treats.

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We hope everyone will enjoy this issue of the NewsPetter. Please pass the word about FloridaPets.net and write us with any suggestions or requests. Your opinion matters to us. 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:

Cirque du Canine Aims High

The Leon County Humane Society and the Florida State University Flying High Circus will jointly present Cirque Du Canine and The Flying High Circus under the Big Top on the FSU campus Friday, April 15. The event is a fund raiser for both organizations.

Acrobatic, high-flying circus students and the highly trained and totally entertaining dog troupe Disc Connected K9s from Jacksonville will perform. The Disc Connected K9s troup is comprised solely of rescued dogs. These world-famous Frisbee dogs and their humans were recently featured on Animal Planet. This will be their first appearance in Tallahassee.

The gates will open at 6:00 p.m. and food is available. The performance will begin at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for children ages 2-12 years, and children under 2 are free. Get your tickets by calling the Leon County Humane Society at 850-224- 9193 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Fill up your senses at Crane's BeachHouse
By Patricia Collier

Tucked away neatly between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway in Delray Beach is our choice for this month's pet-friendly get-a-way.

Crane's BeachHouse has 27 rooms and suites. Each has been given a tropical island theme, complete with decor and names, such as Clouds and Seagulls, Zanzibar, or Toucan and Banana Leaves, the latter which is pictured above. All boast murals and colorful pillows, throws and bed canopies, many commissioned just for Crane's BeachHouse.

Outdoor landscaping soothes even employees who see it every day. Amenities abound, from two heated, saline pools to lush palms and delicate foliage. The entire atmosphere is awash with visual and tactile pampering, including in-suite and poolside spa and massage services.

Crane's allows cats and dogs only. There is a $20.00 non-refundable pet charge per day and a $250.00 refundable deposit for any special cleaning or repairs necessary when you leave. Delray Beach is located in southern Palm Beach County and is known for its artistic flavor. While dogs are not permitted on the beach, Lake Ida Dog Park offers a place to romp with your canine pal off-leash.

Living the life of 'riley'
By Patricia Collier

Meet Riley, companion to Anne & Norm Mangano of Naples. Riley is a black lab, a little over 18-months-old. A real Florida dog, he loves spending time by the pool, relaxing and swimming.

Would you like FloridaPets.net to feature your pet (s) in the NewsPetter or as Pet of the Week on the Web site? If so, please email WebMistress. Send 1-3 photos of your pet(s) and tell us about your pet, i.e., breed, age, sex, personality traits, likes and 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 your photos, in JPG or GIF format only. Thank you for sharing!

Bella, 2-year-old golden retriever and companion to Lenore Famiano of Pompano Beach, Florida, is shown here, the essence of joyful abandon as she accelerates faster than the average SUV. We've selected her as Sponsor Dog for this month's Travel Tips & Tails. "Go like the wind, Bella!"

When traveling with your pet, think: ID, ID, ID!!! A recent National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy report revealed about 3.8 million dogs and 2.3 million cats entered the nation's shelters last year as strays. Only a small percentage of these animals are ever found again by their owners. Stats show only 16.6 percent of dogs and a pitiful 2.1 percent of cats are ever reunited with their families. Don't forget those ID tags and consider microchipping your best friend.

Check out the Petition to Allow Pets in Condos. Thousands of senior citizens in Florida have been denied the opportunity to improve their health and well-being with pet companionship in dwellings they own. Private home ownership should allow responsible persons to keep pets. For more information, go to Citizens for Pets in Condos.

Did you know? The Red Roof Inn hotel chain across the state of Florida is very pro pets. One of our readers tells us pets -- and human children under the age of 18 -- stay free at Red Roof. Just our kind of place!

And now, the important monthly, subliminal message from FloridaPets.net:
"Doggie pooper scoopers, use them, always, everywhere you go. Good human."

Have a handy tip or tale about traveling with pets? Send it to WebMistress and we'll share it with other readers of the NewsPetter.

We are proud to carry the wonderful Liquid Syn-flex

Syn-flex in liquid form is an awesome alternative to harmful arthritis drugs for both pets and people! Because we buy in bulk, we have quite possibly the best prices around on Liquid Syn-flex. And for each bottle for which shipping is paid, the 2nd or 3rd bottles ordered SHIP FOR FREE!

You'll find Syn-flex under Spring Specials in the FloridaPets.net Paw Patch Shoppe. While you're there, check out our great prices on pet toys, pet care items & more!

Email: webmistress@floridapets.net

Phone: 904-879-9352

Web: http://www.floridapets.net