Gretchen and Her Puppies

Gretchen, a two-year-old, pregnant Terrier Mix had been abandoned and was struggling to survive alone in the woods. She was starving and days away from delivering when she wandered into the open and was seen by a kind-hearted person. The Good Samaritan was able to gain her trust and brought her to our shelter so we could help.

While Gretchen was exhausted, hungry and dehydrated, she was relatively healthy. Our veterinary team cleaned her up and snuggled her into the nursery with plenty of food, water and comfy blankets. A staff member sat with her to help her decompress and relax. Realizing she was finally safe, she crawled into the staff member’s lap, cuddled up, and went into labor. Nine babies later, the party of ten was happy, healthy and full of hope. Gretchen began grooming and feeding her pups right away, a natural mom.

The little family spent several weeks with an experienced foster so they could heal and grow in a home environment before finding their forever families. We are thrilled to report they have all been adopted and are thriving!

POLLY, a beautiful 25-year-old Macaw, was dropped off at the shelter after being kept outside in a rusty cage for years (see photos above). Polly’s beak and nails were in desparate need of trimming and care. Despite this recent neglect, we believe he’d known love at one time because he had wonderful speaking and dancing skills. Every day staff looked forward to hearing what he’d squawk out next! We knew this old gent would need an experienced home so that he’d never be mistreated again and could sing and dance to his heart’s content.

Lori and Miranda heard about his story and came right to the shelter. They are experienced with exotic birds and quickly got Polly the grooming he needed. They changed his name to Phoenix and report that he enjoys gallivanting around the house, jamming out on new perches, and long walks on the beach (see photo above). Our hearts are overjoyed that this beautiful boy is finally living the life he deserves, cage-free and loved.

HOLLY was abandoned outside the shelter one night during a terrible thunderstorm that brought pelting rain and heavy winds. When staff arrived in the morning they found this 2-year-old girl huddled in her own waste – scared, cold, and soaking wet. Our team immediately gave her a warm bath and began calming her down by holding her close until she was comfortable, dry, and relaxed.

The medical team was relieved to discover that Holly didn’t have any serious injuries or illnesses. After a few days to decompress and recover from the ordeal, she was placed for adoption and is now in her forever home. Holly will spend the rest of her life safe, warm, and loved.

JEWEL is a lovable 5-year-old Beagle mix who came to HSTB as a stray. As you can see from the first picture, she suffered from a very painful case of Cherry Eye in both eyes. This condition is caused when tear glands become inflamed and swell causing discomfort and obstructed vision. We performed the surgery she needed to reverse the condition and relieve her pain. After a few days of recovery, she was adopted by a wonderful family where she is deeply loved. Her mom writes:

“Our family is honored and blessed to have Jewel as the newest member in our home. She truly is a jewel! Jewel is soaking in all the love and attention she has desperately longed for. She follows my oldest daughter and myself around the house as our personal mini shadow. Jewel loves to snuggle close up at night, feeling the warmth and security, knowing she is loved as much as she loves. Going for walks, chasing ducks, and receiving belly rubs are her favorite activities. She is the perfect dog for our family! My 7-year-old son says to her, ‘You are home now. You will never be a stray dog again, because you are in our family forever and we will take good care of you!’”

MOLLY, a young Shepherd mix, was found wandering alone and pregnant in rural Georgia. She was taken to a partner shelter where they didn’t have the resources to care for her through her pregnancy. They reached out to HSTB and we were happy to welcome Molly to the shelter nursery. The nursery is a dedicated space where moms and babies receive all the medical care and TLC they need to feel safe and secure. Molly was a wonderful patient and gave birth to seven healthy pups.

After a few weeks in foster care to recover and grow, Molly and all her babies were adopted. They are adjusting well to being Florida dogs with endless sunshine and love!

HSTB IS THE PLACE TO BE!

The shelter is not only a refuge for animals in need, but a community destination and resource. Our event space, Humane Education Center, and meeting rooms offer venues for a myriad of happenings. All rental and program fees go directly to life-saving programs, a win-win for everyone! Take a look at some of the ways the facility is Tampa Bay’s go-to destination!

BOOK YOUR NEXT EVENT

Liz McCoy, Special Events Manager 813.252.2027

LizM@humanesocietytampa.org.

SIGN UP FOR CHILDREN & FAMILY PROGRAMS

Jessica Tiso, Humane Education Manager 813.774.4311

JessicaT@humanesocietytampa.org

PETS & TOTS

PAWS FOR LITERACY

FAMILY VOLUNTEER DAYS

PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN & FAMILIES

BIRTHDAY PARTIES

NO SCHOOL DAYS & CRITTER CAMP

SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS

COMMUNITY EVENTS AND RENTALS

THIRD-PARTY EVENTS

MEDIA BROADCASTS

BUSINESS MEETINGS City and County Commissioners at their annual planning meeting

WEDDINGS PARTIES & RECEPTIONS

TEAM BUILDING Staff from BlueGrace Logistics at a business presentation

MR. KENNEDY AND NIKE

Mr. Kennedy is a Veteran who has seen his share of hardship battling homelessness. When his beloved companion, Nike, started vomiting and acting sluggish he brought her to our hospital for help. Nike was dehydrated and borderline anemic so the medical team ran blood work and made sure her vaccines and heartworm check were up-to-date. Luckily, nothing was seriously wrong. Nike had been a patient at the hospital in 2019 when she received bladder surgery and was placed on a prescription food for the rest of her life. Mr. Kennedy was experiencing financial hardship and was unable to provide her with the food she needed. We used the Medical Assistance Fund to provide him with the prescription food Nike needed for a quick and easy recovery.

MS. UNDERWOOD AND GYPSY

Ms. Underwood became homeless in 2020 after having major neck and back surgery. She has been living in her car with her dog Gypsy until recently. A police officer noticed the pair on the side of the road sleeping and contacted St. Vincent DePaul for assistance. Thankfully, Ms. Underwood was able to secure permanent housing through their program.

When Gypsy began showing signs of discomfort Ms. Underwood brought her to the animal hospital for help. We examined Gypsy and found that she had a good oldfashioned ear infection which is easily treatable. Because Ms. Underwood was still getting back on her feet and had limited resources, we used the Medical Assistance Fund to update Gypsy’s vaccines, provide a heartworm check, and send them home with all the medications needed to heal Gypsy’s ears.

Free Microchips

In December 2021, we showed thanks to the Tampa Bay community for all their support by offering free microchips with any purchase or procedure! 364 pets were microchipped during the month-long promotion! We are so glad to provide this service so that if pets get lost they have the very best chance possible of finding their way home.

Pictured left: A very good boy gets his microchip!