Wearing a tiger costume in the hot sun? It's a living

Don't tell David Fowler about the heat.

As the heat index constantly hovers in the triple digits, the 19-year-old spends his afternoons hawking for a pawn shop on the side of North Dale Mabry in a fur tiger suit. Fowler sweats it out walking along the street near strip clubs Shangri-La and 2001 Odyssey.

When people ask him about the heat, he said, "I look at them like they don't know what they're talking about, like they don't have a clue."

Fowler said he needs the $10 per hour he makes while hunting for a job in his chosen field of medical billing.

"Where there is a will, there is a way and if you can make it work, you make it work," he said. "Sometimes it sucks, but it's part of life and you got to do what you got to do to make it."

The key to survival, according to Fowler, is keeping hydrated and keeping your attitude.

"I know I'll be home soon and I know I need the money," he said.

The Clearwater teen just completed his studies in medical billing and coding at Ultimate Medical Academy and earned his national certification. But in the past month, he's only had one job interview.

He went to pawn some things at Stadium Jewelry & Pawn, 2302 N. Dale Mabry Highway. As he always does, Fowler asked if they had any work. The owner said he had a tiger suit leftover from college and asked if Fowler wanted to wear it and try to drum up business.

So now he dons the suit and flashes a sign "we buy gold" outside the shop.

"I liked the bosses," he said. "It seemed like an easy job and it was one of the few things that I had available. It was either this or telemarketing and I'd rather be doing this."

Fowler said he was always willing to work, even when he was younger - mowing lawns and passing out fliers.

But he said being the right-of-way tiger takes the employment cake.

"It makes for a real good story, maybe one I'll tell my kids," he said.

The job fits his temperament and temperature tolerance.

"I'm a lizard," he aid. "I like the sun and being outdoors."

To help pass the time, Fowler listens to hip hop and R&B on his cell phone while donning his tiger head.

He said most of the motorists give him encouragement.

"Most look, wave or smile," he said. "Maybe they just think the tiger suit is fun and just have a laugh at it."

Fowler hopes for a job in the medical field, but as he looks around at his work environment, he longs for his piece of the American dream.

"Everybody finds a way to succeed and I'm just trying to find my own way and to get my foot in the door," he said. "So I'm not out here sweating anymore."