TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Tampa's 'Pets In The Park' Trains People, Places Animals

Tribune photo by JAY NOLAN

"Buddy," a 3-year-old dalmation greyhound mix, was one of many dogs in Lykes Gaslight Square Park.

ADVERTISEMENT

By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 18, 2008

TAMPA - On his lunch break Friday, Rob Lowry crouched by a small beagle and pointed the camera of his cell phone.

The photo was on its way to his wife as Lowry pondered taking the dog home to join the family's dachshund. It didn't sound like his wife would be a hard sell.

"If she sees a dog, she'll want it," he said. "If she was here, we'd already have three."

Lowry was one of the dozens who stopped by a noon-time effort by the Humane Society of Tampa Bay and Hillsborough County Animal Services that brought the furry, cuddly and cute to downtown Tampa for adoption.

Around him, puppies and grown dogs roamed Lykes Gaslight Square on leashes. Cats were kept inside a Humane Society vehicle.

"The cats tend to get a little stressed," said Chrissy Gesumdo, a Humane Society volunteer who held a leash that Jackie, a German shepherd and hound mix, successfully wrapped around any nearby leg.

Laurie Woodham also was on her lunch break from the Tampa Police Department. She held a tiny 6-week-old shepherd mix that looked like it was glued to her sweater.

"I'm an animal lover. I got my last two pets from a shelter," she said.

She was only looking, she said, and already has a dog and cat at home. Besides, adding a puppy to the household would be too stressful for the 15-year-old cat, and her Riverview neighborhood association allows only two pets per household.

Later, though, she returned for another session with the puppy and brought two co-workers who might be in the position to adopt dogs.

The event lasted until 2 p.m.

Both agencies charge an adoption fee that includes sterilization, a microchip, rabies shots and county tag. Any dogs from the Humane Society old enough have also been tested for heart worms.

Animal services has a video or DVD for new pet owners about how to train a kitten or puppy.

A similar event in September placed 15 animals in homes.

Taking a brief break between meetings, Anddrikk Frazier of Brandon was trying to reach his wife on a cell phone.

"I was just perusing, and this one caught my eye," he said.

He was focused on Reeba, a 2-year-old pit bull. But any decision would need his wife's approval. The couple already have a boxer.

"If I took one home, I'd have to get another one for her," Frazier said.

"I wonder how much trouble I'd be in if I brought one home," he said.

On Saturday, animal services will have an orientation session for people interested in being a volunteer at the county shelters.

It begins at 10 a.m. at 440 Falkenburg Road. For information, call (813) 612-5388 or (813) 625-2829.

Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at (813) 259-7731 or njohnson@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT