Making Tracks – Spring 2021

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MEET BLUE & TURK, 4-MONTH OLD SIBLINGS, ABUSED BY THEIR OWNERS

Read how we healed their wounds and found them loving homes, 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 Meredith Balasco Yvette Boggs Ryan Cook Liana Fuente Sarah Glaser Diane Homa Michael Neff Nancy Newman Philip Nodhturft, III Rachel Ridley Mary Scott Elise Zahn, DO BOARD EMERITUS Linda Reitz 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 2 MAKING TRACKS TRACK,

IN THIS ISSUE

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LETTER FROM THE CEO

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FEATURE STORY — BLUE & TURK Two abused puppies find healing and new homes

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SAFE HAVEN Pets we have helped

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THE SHELTER LIFE A behind-the-scenes look at a day in the new shelter

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COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY Ways we have helped keep pets with the people who love them and found homes for those who are lost

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HSTB EVENTS, PROGRAMS & SERVICES From Bark in the Park to birthday parties, we have plenty of ways to be involved

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Memorable adoptions and alumni updates VOLUNTEER OF THE QUARTER, RECOGNITIONS & THANKS

Making Tracks Editor: Maria Matlack Layout and Design: Nash McCutchen, Darren Clark Contributors: Angela Beckwith, Sarah Dale, Valerie Hogan, Liz McCoy, Nash McCutchen, Lisa Novorska, Sherry Silk, Giannina Varchi, Ornella Varchi

LETTER FROM THE CEO “Blue” (white) and “Turk” (black & white), as seen on our cover, are brother and sister.

They are 4-month-old purebred Siberian Husky pups. They were brought to our Animal Hospital by Hillsborough County Animal Control after they gained custody from their owner who was physically abusing them.

They were slammed to the floor multiple times, hard enough to break their bones. Our specialty surgeon, Dr. Justin Boorstein, did the orthopedic surgery so that both dogs could be saved. A cruelty case is pending against the owner.

I will never understand why some people think it is okay to abuse animals, but I am thankful that we have wonderful veterinarians and medical staff who can repair them when this happens. Both pups have healed beautifully and have been adopted to wonderful, caring homes. It is incredible that animals continue to love humans even after they are abused, neglected and starved. They are truly better than us humans in so many ways.

I will never understand

why some people think it is okay to abuse animals, but I am thankful that we have wonderful veterinarians and medical staff who can repair them when this happens.

Last year we saved 10,420 dogs, cats, bunnies, ferrets, guinea pigs and other pocket pets. Our save rate was 93%. Our full-service Animal Hospital saw 44,535 dogs and cats.

In this newsletter, you will see even more success stories from other neglect cases such as Clara, Maisie, Moochie and Lulu.

Your support has allowed us to save all of these wonderful animals.

With the additional space in the new shelter, and our tremendously talented staff at our hospital and shelter, I can’t wait to see what this year will bring.

For the animals,

Chief Executive Officer SherryS@HumaneSocietyTampa.org

Dr. Justin Boorstein, Specialty Surgeon

Animal Control, a Division of Code Enforcement, is responsible for enforcing local and state laws that protect pets as well as people. If you see an animal that is being neglected or abused, please call 813-7445660 to report the abuse.

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FEATURE STORY — BLUE & TURK

Fractured legs. Broken ribs. Bodies covered in feces and urine.

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hese are the abuses Blue and Turk endured at the hands of those who were supposed to care for them.

Video evidence of the owner purposely smashing the 4-month-old puppies into the ground sparked a cruelty investigation with the county that is ongoing at the time of this writing. Once the brother-sister pair were officially surrendered, the county brought them to us to receive the extensive surgery their injuries required. Our specialty surgeon was able to repair their broken bones and after some time to heal, we began the work of finding them forever homes.

You would think that this kind of suffering would make them wary of people. But as we see so often, they were resilient; showing affection, an eagerness to please, and innocent trust in our staff. They also didn’t let their injuries stop them. Though unable to put weight on their fractured legs, they ran around our play yards as if there was nothing wrong at all.

We are happy to report that we found them perfect homes with families willing to work through their recovery and provide them with the enrichment and interaction needed by their highly intelligent, energetic breed.

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We will miss their bright eyes and goofy antics but are so happy to have been a safe haven during their darkest hour.

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SAFE HAVEN — PETS WE’VE HELPED

Before

After

Adopted!

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lara came to us as a stray, barely clinging to life. She was covered in painful, oozing abscesses, her tiny body riddled with infection. Even her eyes were crusted over with infection, and her ribs and spine protruded from starvation. After weeks of intensive, round-the-clock care at our shelter and a few weeks in a loving foster home, Clara was a new dog! Though still shy at first, she began to quickly warm up and find joy in exploring, stretching in the sun, and of course, getting lots of affection.

The Perez family was only planning to foster, but when the time came, could not part with Clara. They love her so much! They admitted their “fostering failure” and adopted her. When they came to make it official after her spay surgery, Clara jumped right into their arms! We couldn't be happier for this fated party of three!

M Before

Adopted!

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eet Lulu, a 3-month-old kitten who was brought to us as a stray. Lulu was covered in scabs and had patches of missing fur. She was restless, miserable and scratching frantically. We discovered she had Notoedric mange (feline scabies), which are mites that cause severe skin infection. The condition is extremely painful and highly contagious. We treated Lulu with medicated baths and injections every two weeks until she was healed. She quickly found a loving home and is now thriving and healthy.

We've treated hundreds of sick cats who, at other shelters, would likely have been euthanized due to the highly contagious nature of their illnesses. Thanks to our new isolation areas, we are able to save more animals like Lulu. It is truly gratifying to give animals with nowhere else to turn relief from suffering and a second chance.

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e all too often see dogs arrive at our shelter in this condition; starved and neglected. Maisie, the emaciated Boxer, was no exception and we were heartbroken for her suffering. Despite her condition, she was such an affectionate soul and quickly became known as the “shelter sweetheart.”

She met anyone and everyone with a barrage of kisses and nuzzles.

Thankfully, she did not have any other medical issues and quickly gained weight and energy with a nutrient-rich diet and plenty of time in the grass and sun.

Before

Adopted!

After

There were many people following her story and interested in adopting her. We are so happy she found the perfect family to ensure she will never go hungry again.

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oochie is another purebred dog who suffered from neglect. She is a 3-yearold, 90lb French Mastiff; a gentle giant suffering terribly from Demodex mange and heartworms.

Her owner, who purchased her as a puppy on Craigslist, surrendered her to us because he could no longer afford to care for her. She had lived outside most of Before After her life and the physical wear and tear was apparent in the sad-eyed pup. Luckily, her medical issues were treatable given time and consistency. After treatment and some TLC, we were able to ease her discomfort and put some pep back in her step.

We discovered that she loves to play and has a fondness for children, a typical trait for this good-natured breed. Because of her mange, she is still in foster care but we are certain that happiness and a loving family are in her not-too-distant future.

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THE SHELTER LIFE

Daku runs happily by his new friend, Aspen, who has found the perfect stick.

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ur new shelter offers the dogs in our care more space for play and exercise while they wait for forever homes.

Currently in development is an enrichment yard that will facilitate:

• Group play • Mind-stimulating obstacles • Sensory gardens for tactile and olfactory enrichment

• Plenty of room to roam, rest under a shady tree, and roll in the grass

Ronald tries out the agility posts, hoping for a tasty treat from volunteer, Birgitte Rasmussen.

Our dogs are currently able to use the yard while we add more features, plant flowers and herbs and install equipment. By spring the project will be completed!

W

hile the shelter can be stressful for any animal, rabbits are particularly sensitive creatures who are easily overwhelmed.

We are thrilled to provide our bunny residents with a quiet corner of the shelter that has plenty of indooroutdoor room to hop, burrow and lay in the sun. We also keep a garden so that every day our bunnies can enjoy fresh, healthy herbs, flowers and grasses that nourish their bodies, minds, and spirits.

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THE SHELTER LIFE

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ou may think our new puppy nursery is a favorite place for staff/volunteers because of the sweet little puppies! But what pulls at our heartstrings are the sweet mommas who now have a safe, quiet place to nurture and be nurtured.

Jodie rests safely and comfortably in her spacious enclosure as she waits to give birth.

They have room to move around, nest and rest as their bodies heal and their babies grow. This dedicated space allows us to take in more pregnant and nursing mothers who would otherwise be struggling to survive on their own. It is both a life-giving and life-saving place.

Jodie and her puppies eventually went into foster care to open up room for another pregnant mother. They have all been adopted into loving homes.

Jodie gave birth to 10 healthy puppies and has been a wonderful mother!

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ur new shelter is equipped with stateof-the-art veterinary equipment and resources, but sometimes, nothing beats good, old-fashioned human-animal contact!

After our tiniest patients undergo spay/neuter surgery, our veterinary technicians often keep them close against their bodies in order to monitor their vital signs. By putting them in a pocket, the techs are able to keep them warm and confined while feeling their heartbeats and breathing to make sure that they come out of the anesthesia successfully.

The same could be done on a heating pad using monitors, but keeping the little ones close also helps to comfort and socialize them. They enjoy the closeness and chance for a free ride around the shelter!

Vet Tech, Mindy Breyer, monitors a kitten recovering from surgery.

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e often see people during very difficult circumstances. We want to keep pets in their homes as often as possible and when we are able to make that happen, it is truly rewarding.

Joy was surrendered because she had a broken leg and her family could not afford the surgery she needed. They were completely devastated to have to let her go, but felt they had no other choice. After reviewing Joy’s x-ray our veterinarian found that the bone was shattered beyond repair; the only option was amputation. Touched by the family’s grief, we went ahead and amputated Joy’s leg but, instead of placing her for adoption, we called them and told them they could come pick her up at no cost. The reunion was a beautiful thing to witness. Today, Joy’s family reports that she is doing very well as a tripod and is back to being her spunky self.

B After

re

Befo

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ella came to us from the streets and didn’t have the social skills needed to be adopted to a traditional home. But, her life still mattered, so we put her in our Working Cat Program. This life-saving initiative pairs semi-feral cats with families who have barns, warehouses or other outbuildings that need free pest control and farm animal companionship. Her adopters sent us this photo of Bella thriving in her new environment. They absolutely love her and say that she has come out of her shell, prancing confidently around the barn like she owns the place. And who are we kidding, she probably does!

COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY

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ow that we have the extra space and our beautiful outdoor courtyard, we enjoy inviting the community to our facility for a variety of events. Recently, we held a Cats & Mats yoga event that ended up being so much more than a morning of movement.

Mariana came to Cats & Mats yoga ready for some fun and relaxation. Little did she know she was about to get a wonderful surprise. As she was setting up in one of the cat rooms, she looked around and saw a cat cuddled in the corner shyly watching her. A lump rose in her throat as she realized that it was her OWN CAT who had gone missing! She brought him to our adoption desk immediately, fighting back tears as she reassured him that he was going home.

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cared little Ruby was found wandering alone in a state park. Luckily, a Good Samaritan brought her to us for a second chance.

A few days later, a family who had recently lost their beloved 11-year-old German shepherd came to the shelter to find another dog to love. They saw Ruby and fell in love with her. It was mutual, and during the visit she wanted nothing more than to stay close to them, especially "mom".

While filling out paperwork, "mom" started talking about a state park near their house where she thinks dogs are dumped. As it turns out, it is the same state park where Ruby was found (chills). Perhaps Ruby has been trying to get to this family her whole life.

You're home now, sweet girl!

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Due to COVID-19 restrictions by the City of Tampa, Bark in the Park 2021 MAY be VIRTUAL.

1-Mile Walk Adoptables Dog Bar Dog Lure Course Dog Pop-Up Park Food Trucks Libations Music Pet Costume Contest Vendors

March, 27th 2021 from 11am - 4pm

CURTIS HIXON PARK, TAMPA FL RAIN OR SHINE

For more information visit:

BARKINTHEPARKTAMPA.COM TOP DOG SPONSORS In Memory of

Rene Voss BARKING BUDDY SPONSORS

PET PAL SPONSORS

FIDO’S FRIEND SPONSORS

BlueGrace Logistics Grow Financial Federal Credit Union Rhyno Glass Zahn Health Solutions

Arbitration Forums, Inc. The Barrymore Hotel Tampa Riverwalk Lenny & Cheryl Chew The Fountain Group Julius-K9, LLC. Buck McInnis Merck Animal Health PAR, Inc. Fran and Dick Powers Veterinary Emergency Group

Bang Energy Bayonet Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning FairyTail Pet Care Farkas Chiropractic Clinic Flonase Greenacre Properties, Inc. K9Grass by Forever Lawn Plantation Animal Hospital Royal Pets Market & Resort Tampa Bay Federal Credit Union Two Shepherds Taproom White Claw & Mike’s Hard Seltzer

TAIL WAGGER SPONSORS Action Air Conditioning Home Solutions Team Honor Thy Pet Cremation & Funeral Service Reeves Import Motorcars Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

HSTB EVENTS, PROGRAMS & SERVICES

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

Check out our professional AND affordable, full-service grooming for dogs offered at our Animal Hospital. We offer a wide range of packages, add-ons and upgrades.

Find out more: HumaneSocietyTampa.org/pet-grooming.

That is what Ansley said as she left her birthday party at HSTB! She and her friends love animals and had a wonderful time visiting with adoptable pets, doing animal-themed activities and enjoying birthday goodies in their private room at the shelter.

“It was the best party and so easy for me because you all did everything! I’ve never had a party somewhere where every single detail was covered from a personalized slide show ... to activities and crafts, to the most adorable cake,” said Ansley’s mom.

We love helping children celebrate their special day! You can find out more about our Birthday Party program at HumaneSocietyTampa.org/birthday-parties HUMANES OC IET YT AMPA.ORG

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Remember these famous HSTB Alumni from years past? Take a look at them now! It makes us so happy to see our former residents happy, healthy and loved.

BART THE MIRACLE CAT Also known as “Bart the Zombie Cat,” Bart was hit by a car then buried alive by his owner who thought he had died. He crawled his way out of the grave and into our hearts. After numerous, extensive surgeries and months of rehabilitation, he was adopted by one of our staff and is now living the life in South Tampa with three HSTB kitty siblings. He enjoys sunning on the lanai, playing and getting pets. He is also known in the household as the “official greeter” as he welcomes everyone who comes to the home.

TURBO We rescued Turbo’s mom and dad from a park in Tampa where they’d been abandoned.

Juliet (Turbo’s mom) was pregnant and gave birth to 3 sickly piglets at our shelter. Turbo was the only one who survived and it took round-the-clock care to save his life. He is now healthy, happy and living with his piggy soulmate, Buttercup, on a wonderful farm.

STANLEY PUP Sweet Stanley got adopted not long after taking a nap in his namesake, the Stanley Cup, when it visited our shelter.

He chose the Dennis family, who own 3 C’s Catering and have been wonderful supporters of HSTB. Their daughter, Delanie, has raised a lot of money for our animals through her lemonade stand. Delanie and her parents say that Stanley was meant to be a Dennis and they can’t imagine life without him. Sounds like he won the prize when he picked these amazing people to love!

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RECOGNITION & THANKS VOLUNTEERS OF THE QUARTER - LAURIE & AL GRECO The Grecos have been volunteering with us for many years and are truly an integral part of the HSTB Volunteer family! They are both “Mentor Volunteers“ who lead our “New Volunteer” trainings several times a month, and they have represented us as leads at hundreds of events across the Tampa Bay area.

This dynamic duo can be counted on to arrive early and stay late for every major event and were a huge help for our Spakitty Dinner and Virtual Week of Giving. As a former Law Studies teacher (Laurie) and Hillsborough County Sheriff’s office Major (Al), they have served the community for years. Now they are continuing their important work by helping with our Humane Education Programs, especially our programs for teens.

As if that weren’t enough, they have also been trained to do adoptions and oversee the HSTB Retail Store. So, if you are at the shelter for any reason, you will more than likely see the Grecos! We hope you’ll join us in giving a huge “thank you” to this awesome volunteer team!

CORPORATE DONORS & PARTNERS

13 Ugly Men 3 C’s Catering 81Bay Brewing Company Alexandra Rose Aspirations Winery Bar HWRD BarrieHaus Beer Co. Beasley Media Group Beauty & Health Institute Big Barker Bill Currie Ford Bottle & Bottega Brink Foundation Cacciatore & Sons Capital One Chihuahua Cerveza Chipotle – Linebaugh Location Cigar City Brewing Club Pilates Carrollwood Construction Services Inc. of Tampa Country Chase Veterinary Hospital Covetrus North America Dimension Nails

Dogtopia of Westchase Downtown Dogs Fresh Step Cat Litter Gipetto’s Handyman Services The Godfrey Hotel Hess Orthodontics Hill Ward Henderson Home Solutions Team Honor Thy Pet Hyde Park Village Kendra Scott – Hyde Park Lions Eye Institute MacFarlane Park Elementary School Marc Edwards Photography Max and Neo Mermaid Tavern Metropolitan Ministries Mike’s Hard Lemonade Seltzer Mosquito Squad Neiman Marcus The New Barker Outcome Health Petco – Wesley Chapel

American Cancer Society Board of Advisors

Girls and Pearls Krewe Vinik Sports Group

PetSmart – South Tampa Power Design Publix Pure Strength & Movement Red Lobster – Busch Location The Refined Feline Rhyno Glass Royal Pet Market and Resort Sam’s Club Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Subaru of Tampa Target Two Shepherds Taproom Uncle Nearest, Inc. USF Federal Credit Union Verbac Vinik Sports Group Vetoquinol Walmart White Claw World of Beer – Fowler World of Beer – Hyde Park

CORPORATE VOLUNTEER GROUPS

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.

Williams Automotive Group

GRANT FUNDING Bernice Barbour Foundation

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ANIMAL HOSPITAL Our full-service animal hospital offers affordable vaccinations, spay/neuter, diagnostics, grooming, and more.

ATTEND EVENTS Join us at events to show your support for homeless animals in the community.

COMPANY MATCH Does your employer match charitable contributions?

Check with your company to see if your impact can be doubled!

HOST AN EVENT AT HSTB HSTB offers beautiful spaces available to rent for weddings, birthday parties, meetings, and more!

HUMANE EDUCATION Educate and engage kids who love animals and wish to learn more about the animals in our care while spending quality time with them. We have eight unique programs to choose from for kids of all ages.

LEGACY GIFT PLANNING Through your estate plan, you can make provisions for your family and friends, as well as for animals in need.

MONTHLY PET PARTNER Monthly donations provide us with a source of recurring support for the homeless animals.

SHOP

Check out HSTB custom merchandise in-store at the shelter or online. Each item has a “Humane Society of Tampa Bay” logo so you can rep your favorite animal welfare organization any time!

Stay Connected Subscribe to our eNewsletter at HumaneSocietyTampa.org @HumaneSocietyTampa

SUPPLY DRIVE

Your office, friends, or neighbors can hold a drive to collect much-needed items for animals in need.

SPONSOR

Get involved at one of our signature events, Bark in the Park, Island Paws, or Tuxes & Tails to show your support for homeless animals in the community.

VOLUNTEER

@HumaneSocietyTampaBay

There are many ways to help homeless animals and we offer a variety of volunteer positions. We are always in need of loyal volunteers.

@HumaneTampaBay

Visit HumaneSocietyTampa.org to learn more.