A day after a swarm of bees fatally stung an 18-month-old pit bull mix, the dog's owners received unexpected news: A Tampa woman who heard about their story offered them a newborn puppy to replace the one they lost.
Also Tuesday, a woman from a pet memorial business in Pinellas Park who saw the story on TBO.com told Lisa Pham and her family she would provide free cremation and memorial services for their dog, Mimi.
"It's something we wanted to do," said Sharon Martinache, regional director of Pet Angel Memorial Services. "We're really happy to help the family."
Before the offer, Pham had said she was not sure she could afford a cremation.
"I was really amazed," Pham said about the show of support from area residents.
"She was crying, she was so happy," said Mary McSwain, who wanted to donate a puppy to the family after reading a story in Tuesday's Tampa Tribune. McSwain's dog Roxy just gave birth to a mixed-breed litter of 11 American bulldog and pit bull puppies.
"We have something to look forward to again," Pham said after she spoke with McSwain. "My kids are so excited. I don't think we stopped crying until we heard about the new puppy."
The puppy, named Dora, will be given to the Phams in a few weeks after being weaned from its mother, said McSwain, who coincidentally is nicknamed "Mimi."
Pham leashed her dog in the backyard of her Largo home Monday afternoon and minutes later heard the animal yelping. When she looked outside, Mimi was rolling on the grass, surrounded by bees. Pham sprayed water to drive the insects away, but several flew toward her and stung her.
Largo firefighters also could not shoo away the Italian honeybees in time to save Mimi. The dog was stung more than 1,000 times and died of cardiac arrest at an animal hospital, Pham said.
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