Residents at Homewood Residence Freedom Plaza Brookdale Senior Living got a little wild at the residence Oct. 13. Jaime Massey, an animal ambassador with Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, brought a menagerie of six exotic animals to show to about 50 residents in the center's conference room. Massey brought animals from three different species' groups - representing "scales, feathers and fur" - describing the animals' native homelands, diets and unique aspects. Bev Hurley, Homewood's sales and marketing manager, said it was Lowry Park's first visit to Homewood Residence and was part of the center's ongoing speakers series. ...more

October 21, 2009

A teenager faces charges in a gruesome string of cat mutilations and killings that have horrified his neighbors and shaken animal lovers in two South Florida communities. ...more

June 14, 2009

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of $1,000 for information leading to whoever took Millie, a terrier and Maltese mix, during a home burglary in Seffner. The house in the Parsons Point Subdivision was burglarized April 14 while the homeowner was out, officials said today. Two men took thousands of dollars in property as well as the dog, officials said. ...more

April 30, 2009

Workers at the Pinellas County Animal Services shelter first named the somewhat independent-minded puppy Petey. ...more

February 24, 2009

Workers at the Pinellas County Animal Services shelter first named the somewhat independent minded puppy Petey. But on further review, Mickey might be more appropriate. ...more

February 23, 2009

A Tampa Bay area animal agency is helping some neglected dogs from North Carolina. ...more

February 12, 2009

Musings on the rising cost of college education. ...more

January 15, 2009

Imagine how you would look and feel if you never bathed, brushed your hair or trimmed your nails. To be healthy and happy, your companion animal needs basic grooming, too. ...more

January 11, 2009

The Brandon Service League's 16th annual Holiday Home Tour was a big success, said Candy Jackson, first vice president of the league and former tour chairwoman. Hundreds of men, women and children visited the ornamented houses, owned by Lithia residents John and Ellen Matheson and Valrico residents Scott and Chris Etherington and Dave and Monica Cox. ...more

January 7, 2009

This week's column is dedicated to the staff and volunteers of animal shelters throughout our country. So often you hear people say, "I would love to come and help, but it is too sad to see all of those animals there and without homes." I felt that way long, long ago. ...more

September 14, 2008