Seamus, companion to Erin and Frank Munoz of Tulsa, OK, and soon-to-be residents of Florida, welcomes you to the May issue of the NewsPetter. He's a 4-year-old Irish Wolfhound/Wheaton Terrier. Seamus was adopted from a rescue group who found him wandering in the desert, having been bitten on an ear, probably by a coyote.

The Florida Legislature has voted to make doggie dining permanent. We are awaiting word that Gov. Charlie Crist has signed the bill into law. Check here to see if your town is keeping up with the trend.

Great news. A new dog park is coming for Port Orange. Check it out here.

More great news! The Marco Island City Council has finally approved an ordinance that will allow dogs off-leash in a designated area. Officials have agreed a good location to be the southern edge of Mackle Park where a 1.25-acre fenced area will be set aside for large dogs and a .19-acre fenced area for small dogs. Hours will be from sunrise to sunset and the facility will offer water and a pedestrian walkway. We'll post more info here as we receive it.

Pssst. Oviedo is thinking about a dog park. Want to help make it a reality? Contact city council members and ask nice.

I wrote about the pet-friendly Florida Estates Winery in Land O' Lakes in the NewsPetter a few years ago and they still allow leashed dogs. As long as you clean up after your pet, you can even take him or her to the inside bar for wine tastings.

Did you know? According to an actual alligator wrestler, there's one alligator for every ten people in Florida. Just don't tell the Chamber of Commerce.

Speaking of the Chamber, did you know there's one specific for pet-related businesses? Pet Chamber of Commerce covers south Florida. There is a membership fee, but members can enjoy networking and other benefits. (There are special membership fees for non-profit animal groups like shelters and rescues.)

Sanctuary Animal Refuge in Clewiston and the Humane Society of Citrus County Inverness, get free pet food. I know I have readers that work or volunteer for shelters; perhaps your group could get free food too?

Before you and Fido get your toes wet and sandy during your next outing, you might want to check out the quality of the water at your favorite beach at Florida Healthy Beaches Program.

EPA is warning pet people about the dangers of various flea/tick spot treatments. For more info, go to their site and review the Q&A data base.

The June 2009 issue of Dog Fancy ranks its top 10 dog parks in the nation, but only one's in Florida - Happy Tails Dog Park in Dunedin, Florida.

In Miami-Dade County, there's a new ordinance that bans the cruel practice of chaining dogs outdoors. The ordinance "bans tethering or chaining of a dog unless the owner is with the animal, even when there are restrictions" and will be enforced by animal services. According to the organizers of Dogs Deserve Better, citizens or visitors who spot a chained dog can call 305-960-4670.

What do you feed your dogs? I've been searching and searching for a good quality, yet affordable, food for our 6 canines. We found someone and purchased from them for about 2 years, but the company is now having shipping problems. Grrrr! Suggestions, anyone? If so, please email me.

Don't forget our Aid for Pets page, filled with resources for pet guardians struggling to keep their pets during the current economic downturn.

Freebie of the month: Advocacy Aids, a great resource for forms and templates to keep track of all aspects of your pet's health care.

That's it for this month. Thanks for continuing to "tail along" with FloridaPets.net. Please drop us a note anytime you have a comment or suggestion, or would like us to feature your pet or a pet-friendly event in your area.