FALL 2021
MEET SOPHIE, BURIED WITH HER PUPPIES AFTER ISLAND VOLCANO ERUPTS Read how we helped her rise from the ashes, page 4.
LEADING THE WAY BECAUSE EVERY LIFE COUNTS™
HUMANE SOCIETY OF TAMPA BAY LEADERSHIP & BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Sherry Silk BOARD OF DIRECTORS Morris Massey President Suzie Archibald Vice President Laura L. Tatem Treasurer Nancy Newman Secretary
IN THIS ISSUE
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Meredith Balasco Ryan Cook Liana Fuente Sarah Glaser Diane Homa Michael Neff Philip Nodhturft, III Rachel Ridley Mary Scott Elise Zahn, DO
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BOARD EMERITUS Linda Reitz
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ADVISORY COUNCIL Pat Antinori Greg Balasco Mayor Jane Castor Lisa DeBartolo Nikki DeBartolo Lindsay Deignan Danita Dickman Carol Schwartz Funk Commissioner Ken Hagan Bobby Harris Parker Homans Sandy Murman Kim Rogers Jacalin Russo Cherie Schonbrun Cathy Smith Andrea Gonzmart Williams
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LETTER FROM THE CEO
FEATURE STORY —SOPHIE AND THE DOGS OF ST. VINCENT Island dogs in danger after a volcanic eruption get their second chance in Tampa SAFE HAVEN Pets we’ve helped, healed and rehomed TRANSPORT & RESCUE Changing the lives of pets and their people
WHO RESCUED WHO? We help them and they help us
HSTB PETS AROUND TOWN See some of our shelter animals and alumni who’ve become local celebs RESCUE PARTNERS It takes a village to save lives VOLUNTEER OF THE QUARTER, RECOGNITIONS & THANKS A LOVE STORY FOR THE BOOKS A real-life fairy tale and a chance to share the love
Making Tracks Editor: Maria Matlack Layout and Design: Nash McCutchen Contributors: Sarah Dale, Gretel Harvey, Valerie Hogan, Liz McCoy, Nash McCutchen, Lisa Novorska, Sherry Silk, Ornella Varchi
LETTER FROM THE CEO
It takes a lot of people to save animals. Sophie and her puppies (page 4) are an excellent example of this. Buried in a volcanic eruption on St. Vincent’s Island in April of this year, they were rescued by the local SPCA and then flown to Tampa by a volunteer pilot with Wings of Rescue. That is when we went to work. We attended to their medical and emotional needs and then later adopted them to loving families in Tampa Bay.
Sherry Silk comforts Molly, who came to the shelter with her puppies after being rescued from a life of breeding and neglect (pg. 9).
This newsletter is filled with dogs and cats that have been abused, neglected or abandoned by their prior owners. And yet, with good medical care and a lot of “TLC” from our staff and volunteers, they get to live out their lives with new, loving families.
Thank you, Tampa Bay, for supporting the animals during this very difficult and challenging year-and-a-half. We appreciate each one of you who have adopted, volunteered, used our hospital or given a donation. We couldn’t do this very important work without you. On another note, we received many calls and emails about “Martin” the black and white cat who was featured in our last newsletter. Martin had a collar embedded in his neck for months. He almost died. We rescued him and he spent a couple of months in my office healing, ever so slowly, after multiple surgeries. Well, I fell in love and adopted him! His neck is still healing but I am happy to report he is thriving in his new home.
Thank you, Tampa Bay, for supporting us during this very difficult and challenging year-and-a-half ... we couldn’t do this very important work without you.
For the Animals,
Chief Executive Officer SherryS@HumaneSocietyTampa.org
Pictured at right: Martin, Sherry, and Toby (another HSTB alumni) in their home. HUMANES OC IET YT AMPA.ORG
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FEATURE STORY — So
Sophie, pictured on the cover and in one of our play yards, was traumatized from being buried in volcanic ash and trying to keep herself and her puppies alive. After consistent, gentle care from staff and volunteers she learned to relax and enjoy her new surroundings in Tampa. Volunteers from VSPCA helped dig Sophie and her puppies out from under the ash to safety.
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Sophie and her pups after rescue.
Sophie feeling safe, relaxed and happy in our shelter.
phie and the dogs of St. Vincent Wings of Rescue
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30 Vincentian dogs arrive in Tampa.
HSTB Volunteers help welcome the pups.
a Soufriere Volcano on the island of St. Vincent, part of the Caribbean nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, had been dormant for 42 years. On April 9, 2021 it began a series of violent eruptions that left the island reeling from massive damage and destruction. Not only were hundreds of owned animals displaced, but the island’s street dogs were left injured and facing starvation after the disaster. Thankfully, the Vincentian SPCA (VSPCA) teamed up with Wings of Rescue to take pet food and veterinary supplies to the island and to help rescue and evacuate the street dogs. We were able to welcome 30 of the pups to our shelter through our partnership with Wings of Rescue and VSPCA. Sophie, who had a litter of puppies at the time of eruption, was one of those precious souls. The family’s hideaway had been buried so deep in ash that they were unable to dig out and would’ve faced a terrible death from thirst and starvation. When Sophie got to Tampa she was frightened and depressed. Her puppies found homes quickly but she needed extra time to heal from the trauma. After several weeks of loving care she began to realize she was safe, food was coming regularly, and she had nothing to fear. As her confidence grew she began to enjoy trips to the play yards and pets from new human friends. After being featured on WFLA-NBC’s weekly adoption segment, “Pickle’s Pick,” Sophie found her forever home. Our other St. Vincent friends have all found loving homes. Below are 18 of them posing with their new families before heading home to their happily ever after.
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SAFE HAVEN — PETS WE’VE HELPED, HEALED & REHOMED
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inka, an 8-month-old Siberian Husky pup, was left outside of our Intake Department with a heartbreaking note. It seems that Minka was abandoned on a stranger's doorstep first then brought to us by those people because they were unable to keep her. Because of their work schedule they had to leave her with us before we opened. In the shelter, Minka desperately wanted to engage but would draw back in fear when we reached out to her. We believe she was forced to wear a shock collar that may have traumatized her. After a few days she began to feel safe and to act like a normal, happy puppy. She found the perfect home with a loving family who will show her that there will be no more pain.
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weet baby Smitty came to us as a stray after being found by a Good Samaritan. At first glance we thought his leg was fractured but on examination found that he was suffering from nerve damage. It may have been the result of an injury or trauma, but his leg was useless and a hazard since he had no feeling or control of the limb. After our veterinarian amputated, Smitty was a new kitten, playing and frolicking around as if he'd been set free. In a sense, he had! He recovered quickly and was able to be placed for adoption within just a few days. It didn't take him long to find a loving home. He even got a kitty sibling on his adoption day, as his new family decided that two cuties are better than one! We are so happy for both of them and wish the family a long, happy life together.
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hese pint-sized pocket pittie pups were brought to us as strays. It seems they had experienced hard times in their short six months of life. Rhonda’s (grey) leg was disfigured, likely from an old injury that wasn't treated, and George's (tan) tail was broken and left to heal on its own. Luckily, neither condition causes pain or harms the pups, so they are able to live normal lives. We were ecstatic when Bryan and Luther came to the shelter to adopt the siblings together! They had seen the pups’ story on social media and came early the day the pups were made available so they could be first in line to adopt. The father-son duo was so excited that the siblings could stay together for life and couldn’t wait to bring them home. We are so grateful for adopters like Bryan and Luther who are willing and able to go the extra mile for our animals in need.
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his beautiful boy is Meesh. He was abandoned at our door in a carrier. Stuck to the carrier were three PostIt notes that read “Please help me! Hi, my name is Meesh and I was bitten by a Brown Recluse and need help and adopted [sic].” Luckily, our surgery team was able to repair the tissue under the wound. The sevenmonth-old kitten recovered well and found his very own human quickly. We know he’ll never be left behind again.
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heck out this cute girl’s GLOW UP! When she came to us, Molly had many health concerns due to being severely neglected and used to breed. Because of her sweet disposition it didn’t take long for her to find an amazing family. They report that Molly has come so far, thriving in their care and getting lots of family time! She's the perfect example of how love can change an animal’s entire world and, in turn, make ours a whole lot better too. HUMANES OC IET YT AMPA.ORG
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INAUGURAL TRIP SAVES 35 LIVES
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aving lives takes a lot of hard work, many hands, and a fleet of transport vehicles! Thanks to the generous donors listed below we were able to purchase a vehicle large enough to complete our own animal transports from partner shelters and rescues in need. We no longer have to rent vehicles or rely on others’ schedules to help us bring animals in need to our shelter. As soon as there is a need, we can answer! Our inaugural “Freedom Ride” took place in June and brought 35 small adult dogs, nursing mothers, and puppies to Tampa from Mississippi for a second chance. These little lives were at risk because the shelter they came from did not have the space or resources to keep them. While the vast majority of our animals (84%) are local strays and owner surrenders, our new shelter affords us the space to take animals from other communities struggling to place homeless pets. We are so grateful to all the volunteers, donors, and supporters who came out to help us get the dogs settled into their kennels and celebrate our new vehicle’s first trip. All 35 dogs have since found homes and are loving the Florida life. Thank you to these amazing donors for making this possible; your generosity will save lives for years to come:
Wm. Andrews Family Jim and Mary Frances Bransford The Brink Foundation T. and E. Dvorchak Debbie and Ruslan Fedotenko In Memory of William P. Gregory
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Jeannine Hascall Libby Johnson The Kelly Family Kirtley Family Milkey Family Foundation Ben Pethe Sallie Spada Wells Stephen and Merly Tenberg
Picture top right: The HSTB Transport Van Pictured top left: A senior beagle takes a first look at the Florida life! Pictured top center: Dr. Elise Zahn, HSTB Board Pictured bottom center: Debbie Fedotenko Pictured bottom left: Kennel Manager Angel Rodriguez and staff member Jimmy Williams
CHANGING THE LIVES OF PETS AND PEOPLE
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ur Transport and Rescue programs are vitally important because they answer calls for help that would otherwise go unheard. Not only do these services save the lives of animals but they help people and communities in need who have nowhere else to turn. The stories below are just two of hundreds that demonstrate the impact of our work. TRANSPORT: SOLOMON’S STORY Our friends from Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center (MCAS) in Texas helped with a largescale seizure of 56 Canaan dogs, a breed abundant in the Middle East, who were languishing in a hoarding situation. The conditions were horrible, with dogs living in wire cages on top of their own feces and urine (see above left)! After the rescue, MCAS reached out to us for help with housing and adopting the dogs; we welcomed them to Tampa with open arms. Solomon, pictured above, was very shy and uncertain after his ordeal. But that cautiousness ended up working in his favor. His adopters, a mother-daughter pair, noticed Solomon because he was the only dog in the kennels who wasn't barking. They felt an instant connection with this quiet soul thinking he was a perfect fit because he was an introvert, just like them. In his new home, Solomon is blossoming. At first he was nervous to go on walks but now he runs around outside with joy! At first he slept only on the floor, but now he snuggles down into his comfy bed. He used to stay curled up at the front door trying to make himself disappear, but now he lounges by the balcony door, enjoying the sun. Solomon has gone from horror to home and we could not be happier for him. Molly’s puppies in their “den.”
Molly scrounging for scraps. Molly smiling and adopted! Adopted! Adopted!
RESCUE: A MOTHER IN NEED Molly was being used by her owners to breed. When her owners decided that she was no longer useful they stopped feeding her, even though she was pregnant. She escaped from her yard and found refuge under an abandoned trailer where she gave birth to her puppies and cared for them for six weeks. A concerned neighbor saw the family and called our Rescue Team for help. When we arrived at the scene, the puppies were covered in fleas but were otherwise very healthy. Molly, however, had been surviving on scraps and given all her nourishment to her pups, so she was extremely malnourished. She also had a painful, infected wound on her throat where she’d been tethered by her owners. We were so glad we were able to rescue the family from this terrible situation. Molly and her pups spent a few weeks with us healing, growing and learning to trust again. We are very happy to report they all found loving homes.
Adopted!
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WHO RESCUED WHO? WE HELP THEM, THEY HELP US
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hen Haven was adopted as a pup in July 2019, her family had no idea how integral her presence would become to the family. Just eight months later, as the pandemic hit and sent us all into hiding, Haven's human brother, Dylan, was diagnosed with Leukemia. We can't imagine how difficult that would have been under normal circumstances, but adding a pandemic into the mix makes the notion even more harrowing.
Haven and "She is the best Dylan were inseparable dog and has been before he amazing through became ill. the whole thing." As his health - Kathryn, Dylan’s mother failed, she instinctively shifted from being a playmate to a new calling as comforter and gentle companion. She stayed close by her boy's side through the entire treatment process, giving the kind of encouragement only the warm weight of a loving pet can offer. These pictures speak for themselves in demonstrating the incredible and healing bond between animals and their people. This is why the work we do is so important. At the time of this writing, we are thrilled to report that this Dylan is in remission. We wish him, and his very special pup, nothing but happiness and health for years to come.
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olly was brought to our Animal Hospital with three broken legs when she was just a tiny puppy. We were able to take custody of her so that she wouldn’t suffer more abuse. Our surgeon cared for her injuries while a staff member (Ben) fostered her back to health. She was then adopted by Amanda, who was so touched by her story that she gave a generous donation "In honor of Holly’s care by Ben Moenhert and team at the hospital."
Holly recovering from three broken legs.
Holly recovered and living a happy, healthy life with her new family.
Since being adopted, Holly has undergone three additional surgeries to correct the broken bones. Amanda said that she was surprised she still has all four legs, although she doesn’t think that losing one would have stopped her one bit. We are so happy that she is now living a normal, happy life and will never be hurt again.
She is full of life, and [has brought] a lot of sunshine and joy into my life over the last year. - Amanda
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erosene's parents brought her to our Animal Hospital because she was extremely lethargic and depressed, not like herself at all, and they sensed that something was terribly wrong. We are so glad they followed their instincts because she was suffering from Pyometra, a serious and life-threatening infection of the uterus.
Kerosene was critically ill when she arrived at our hospital.
Kerosene’s family was so grateful that she survived.
Treatment for this condition requires emergency surgery, which can be very costly, and her family was struggling financially. Thanks to our Pet Assistance Grant we were able to cover the costs and save her life. Our Medical Director, Dr. Bard, performed the surgery and Kerosene came through with flying colors. Her family, including her canine brother Seren, was beyond grateful to have their girl back and on the mend.
OUR FREE SHOT CLINIC FOR DOGS IS BACK! We are excited to host the first vaccination clinic since the pandemic on NOVEMBER 20, 2021 from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm at Perry Harvey Sr. Park in downtown Tampa. Mark your calendars, we’ll see you there! Learn more: humanesocietytampa.org/happenings HUMANES OC IET YT AMPA.ORG
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HSTB PETS AROUND TOWN!
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efore the first-round playoff matchups for the Lightning at Amalie Arena, HSTB kittens were featured in a fun in-game video against the Panthers to raise awareness about kitten season and adoption. We think their cuteness brought extra luck to help the Bolts bring home the Stanley Cup for the second year in a row!
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ongratulations to HSTB Alumna, Emma! She is the newest team member and Partnership Pup for Tampa's Downtown. Majoring in Bark-eology, Emma is responsible for overseeing office morale and enjoys long strolls on the Riverwalk.
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eet Dexter, one of HSTB's furriest Volunteers who was born in the shelter and adopted by volunteer Michele Gregory. She got him right into training and the smart pup was a registered therapy dog by 11 months old! Since then, Dexter has been busy loving, comforting, playing with and cheering up people in all kinds of situations, accumulating 816 volunteer hours! His favorite places to visit are schools and camps for children, assisted living centers, and hospice facilities. What an incredible difference he makes in the lives of people.
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his awesome couple manages Home 2 Suites in Tampa and came to our shelter to adopt a dog to live at the hotel and serve as Lobby Ambassador and Greeter. They fell in love with Blaze because of his sweet, goofy personality. He was so friendly and sociable, they knew he’d bee the perfect fit for their patrons. Blaze is one of those happy-golucky pups who has never met a stranger that he didn’t like. We know he’ll be putting a smile on travelers’ faces for years to come, just look at him beam!
HONORARY CHAIR:
Cherie Schonbrun
Presenting Sponsor
Thank You to all Tuxes & Tails Sponsors A black tie benefit for the homeless animals of the Humane Society of Tampa Bay
10.23.2021
For Tickets, Tables & Sponsorships
TuxesTailsTampa.com
Tampa Convention Center
Impact Their Future Through Gift Planning Giving through your estate can help impact the animals in need now and into the future. With the help of planned gifts, we have been able to continue the lifesaving work as well as build a sustainable future that will benefit many animals for years to come. Please consider HSTB when making your planned gifts and you can also take advantage of immediate or deferred tax benefits. There are several ways to give:
I support HSTB because I can't think of anything more wonderful than helping any animal in need.
Stocks and Bonds Donor Advised Funds Required Minimum Distributions Bequests and Beneficiary Designations IRA Charitable Rollover and Qualified Charitable Distributions Life Insurance
- Beth Elbert, HSTB Volunteer
For more information on what gifts can make the most impact for the animals and for your own financial planning, please contact: Ornella Varchi, Chief Development Officer 813.876.4150 or OrnellaV@HumaneSocietyTampa.org The Lamb Family has pledged an annual contribution to the Animal Medical Fund in memory of Tommy Everett Lamb, who donated hours of his time to design the state-of-the-art building for the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. If you wish to make a contribution to the Animal Medical Fund in Tommy’s memory, please HUMANES OC IET YT AMPA.ORG 13 contact our Development Department at 813-774-4306.
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Thank You, Rescue Partners!
he shelter environment can be difficult for some animals with the barrage of new smells, sounds, and objects they encounter. When we see that the stress is going to be insurmountable for a pet, we call on our rescue partners for help. We’ve recently seen more animals with special needs and/or severe anxiety, and these partners have been indispensable in helping us save their lives.
Scoobs, a four-year-old, blind Great Dane came to us with significant stress and a fear of being touched. Florida Giant Dog Rescue answered our call and, as soon as they got her out of the shelter, Scoobs was smiling and enjoying pets from her new friend. She has since found a wonderful home with a family that adores her and helps her navigate life without fear.
Little Robert, a sweet senior with special needs, came in as a stray with a dire medical prognosis. We knew the shelter would not be good for him. Our friends at True Faithful Pet Rescue Mission came right away to pick him up and are caring for him in their hospice program. He will be safe and loved for the rest of his days.
Bella was very stressed and depressed in the shelter environment. Thankfully, our friends at VIP Pet Rescue were able to take her and find the perfect family to give her a wonderful life.
Howie, another sweet senior, was very depressed and struggled to acclimate to the shelter. Florida Poodle Rescue was thrilled to take him and report that he quickly found a friend his age to bond with in his foster home. He will also receive medical care for his eyes while waiting for his new home.
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RECOGNITION & THANKS VOLUNTEER OF THE QUARTER - JASON TILLIS Jason Tillis has been volunteering with us for over two years and is one of our fantastic Dog Companions and Event Leads. He is out with animals at community events so often that you might have had the pleasure of meeting him! In fact, Jason often spends his entire Saturday helping the animals. During the morning he walks dogs and hands out pet food to owners in need through our Food Assistance Program. In the afternoon and evening, he takes dogs out to community adoption and outreach events! Jason is also one of our “go-to” event leads when we host an event at the shelter and he is often the first one there and one of the last volunteers to leave. He always has a smile and a positive attitude and we cannot imagine what we would do without him as an integral part of our volunteer team! We really appreciate Jason’s obvious love for the animals and his dedication to HSTB! Congratulations Jason, and thanks for being a terrific volunteer!
CORPORATE DONORS & PARTNERS 3C’s Catering 717 South 81Bay Brewing Company 93.3FLZ AGold Pet Photography Arbitration Forums, Inc. Ark Naturals Ava Tampa Bay Hope Church - Riot Camp Group Bay Stage Live Beasley Media Cali South Tampa Cali St. Pete Cali Tampa Palms Central Pet & Garden Supply Chasm Communications Chihuahua Cerveza Cigar City Brewery CLCE at USF Downtown Dogs The Dental Boutique Westchase FairyTail Pet Care Farkas Chiropractic Clinic
Federal Express Ground Forest Hills Presbyterian Church Fresco y Mas Fresh Kitchen Grow Financial Credit Union Health Mutt Hilton Downtown Tampa Honor Thy Pet Jacalin Russo JPMorgan Chase Katie Sommers Kendra Scott Lightning Foundation Lindsay and Michael Stewart Lutz-Land O’Lakes Woman’s Club LUXE Fashion Group MacDinton’s Meat Market Meredith Balasco Neiman Marcus New York Life Outback Bowl PetCo
Pet Supplies Plus Phi Delta Gamma, UT Chapter PNC Wealth Management Rhyno Glass Royal Pets Market & Resort Sam’s Club Solis Yoga Bar St. Petersburg Distillery Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Tampa Bay Lightning Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club Tampa Pinnacle Academy The Goddard School The Poke Company The Salt Shack UNATION UDream Events Vineyard Vines Woodie’s Wash Shack World of Beer – Fowler World of Beer – Tampa International Yura Vine Brothers
Irene C. Evans Charitable Trust Jim Parker
Petfinder Foundation
GRANT FUNDING Bissell Pet Foundation Dolly’s Dream
The Humane Society of Tampa Bay is a 501c3 and does not receive funding from the state, federal government, or any national animal groups, including HSUS and ASPCA. HUMANES OC IET YT AMPA.ORG
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A Love Story for the Books
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he Columbies came to the shelter after seeing sweet little Brando on our website. As we visited with them during the adoption we learned something incredible: 40 years ago they came to HSTB to adopt their first dog and have adopted four more from us over the ensuing years! They report that each has lived a long, happy life, and they even brought pictures to show us. They remember the shelter when it was just a tiny place and they kept returning through all the add-ons and portable buildings. They were blown away by the new building and how far we've come in the past four decades.
Their story is a love affair of 42 years, 40 of which have been complete with HSTB dogs! They said they would never go anywhere else to find a furry friend, because every dog they have adopted has been healthy and has added so much to their lives. "That's no coincidence," they said with a smile.
Do YOU have an epic HSTB love story? Share the large and little ways that your HSTB adopted pet has changed your life for the better and you could win a Petco shopping spree, BOB’S from Skechers and a $100K grant award for your friends at HSTB that will go towards saving more homeless animals in need.
Deadline: Sept. 20th Winners will be announced during the holiday season.
Sign up and share your story here:
PETCOLOVE.ORG/LOVESTORIES
To quali fy, you must be 18 years of age or older, or complete the appli cati on proce ss with guardian consent . Submit ted storie s should be abou t a pet who is current ly living and adopte d from the Human e Soci et y of Tampa Bay.
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