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Name: Little Bit
Gender: Female
Age: 2 years, 1 month
Species: Cat
Breed: Domestic Longhair
Orphaned Since: 1/28/2010
Little Bit has been waiting for her home for quite sometime! She’s not so little though. She’s a big girl with a big heart. She would love to be your one and only!
Name: Dilly
Gender: Female
Age: 2 years, 7 months
Species: Dog
Breed: Pit Bull Mix
Orphaned Since: 1/26/2010
Dilly is a gorgeous gal that hates being called a pit bull! It tends to make people shy away but she’s a ball full of kindness. She’s energetic and smart, too. She can sit and shake on command. Treats help, too! She’s already housetrained and ready to be your only doggie. Give her a chance today!
Visit us at the SPCA
Adoption Center open Mon – Sat, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
5850 Brannen Rd S in Lakeland
Call 646-7722
www.lovemyspca.com
All pets are spayed/neutered, microchipped and vaccinations are up to date through our full-service medical center which is also open to the public.
From our Volunteer Coordinator, Alane:
This month’s featured volunteer is one of our hardest workers here. John Gotthardt (Jack as we know him) moved to Florida from Texas in January of 2009. He started working part-time at Home Depot and was looking to give back and volunteer his time working with animals. Living in Winter Haven, he thought he would try to help at his local Humane Society. When he walked in, he was unimpressed to say the least. He was not greeted, not shown where to go and he left feeling disappointed and uninterested in volunteering for them. Shortly thereafter, he decided to check out our facility. He was amazed and truly enjoyed his visit. He applied to volunteer, and the rest was history! Since attending last July’s orientation, Jack has donated close to 300 hours to our organization. Besides working diligently in the puppy room a few days a week, Jack also helps out with off-site adoption events such as PetSmart Davenport and special events in his area. He assists with some of our pet therapy events, driving to Manor at Carpenters and also delivers Ani-meals food. It’s crucial to have volunteers that we can trust to drive our pets safely to their off-site event or location. He always says “yes” to our last minute requests when he is able, and always shows a great attitude, no matter how mundane the task.
Jack drives from Winter Haven twice a week, arriving sometimes as early as 7:30 a.m. some mornings to get his start walking the small dogs and scrubbing the puppy room cages. He does this knowing that he will be working by himself until most of the staff arrive at 9 a.m., but happy that he can help them out and have them start their days with less of a mess and less of a “to do” list. He then stays almost 7 hours, working with the customers and facilitating adoptions once we open to the public at 11 a.m. It’s no surprise that the staff is blown away by him. Not many people thank US when they are the ones volunteering their time, but Jack is one of those very special people. He always has a smile and gives 110%. I hope he does not mind my mentioning that he is 79 years of age…. and doesn’t look or act a day over 50!
In his life outside the SPCA, Jack has two daughters who live in Pennsylvania and Texas, and four grandchildren. He had been looking for a dog, and he fell in love with his perfect match a few months ago when he adopted Hilde, a four year old min-pin from the SPCA. He is a dedicated dad. He takes her to obiedence classes with Debbi Snyder and is also helping her get healthy (she was quite overweight when he took her home!).
Jack, words cannot express our appreciation for being such a great team player and ambassador for the animals. We have ALL noticed your hard work and dedication these past 8 months and are so thankful that you stepped onto our campus. It’s individuals like you that render it the “Campus of Kindness.”
To become a member of our volunteer team, please apply online at www.lovemyspca.com or call 863.646.7722 x 112.
Name: Tangi
Gender: Female
Age: 6 years
Species: Cat
Breed: Domestic Shorthair
Orphaned Since: 1/19/2009
Tangi has been waiting for her purr-fect mate since January. She’s been patient and has sharpened her love skills! Open your home and heart to this lucky lady today, and we promise you won’t regret it. She’s loving, sweet and gorgeous. What more could you want?
Name: Henrietta
Gender: Female
Age: 4 years, 2 months
Species: Dog
Breed: Basset Hound/Retriever Mix
Orphaned Since: 12/15/2009
Henrietta is a gorgeous canine, and she’s been waiting for her home since DECEMBER! No one understands why a gorgeous dog like her is still waiting for forever. She’s playful, mellow and ready to go home. Can you open your home to Henny today?
Visit us at the SPCA
Adoption Center open Mon – Sat, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
5850 Brannen Rd S in Lakeland
Call 646-7722
www.lovemyspca.com
All pets are spayed/neutered, microchipped and vaccinations are up to date through our full-service medical center which is also open to the public.
Anticipation is building around this place for the upcoming Lakeland Community Theatre’s Annie production. A few months ago, we started watching our new pets closely to see if anyone beared a striking resemblence to Sandy…what do you think?
Some of the cast from the production even came out to our Annual Auction for the Animals back in November and sang “Hard Knock Life”. It was hard to follow that up, and now we are eagerly awaiting opening night on March 4.
Not only is Sandy a pet from the SPCA, but there will also be a different SPCA guest star in the play each night so keep an eye out for that!
You can purchase tickets here or see more about the Annie cast and team here. Seriously, it doesn’t get any better than this! A live production featuring some adorably cute little girls with our adorably cute pets…how can one resist?
There will be an opportunity to give to the SPCA each night along with an informational table set up for us in the lobby. You may fall in love with these guest stars, too!
Last night of production is March 21 (which happens to be a matinee) so get your tickets today!
The last two years, one of our beloved Board members has organized a cruise for SPCA supporters with a portion of the proceeds going to us and each cruise has been a great success. The next cruise is coming up!
From Sept. 4 – 17, supporters can jump on board the Celebrity Millennium – Tour 15 sailing to Alaska. Ports of call include Fairbanks, Denali, Talkeetna, Anchorage, Alyeska and Seward. You can have the choice to sail for the full two weeks or just one week.
Per person rates start at $2,057 up to $2,997 and a $500 per person deposit is due on March 14 with final payment on July 1. The SPCA will receive $50 from each reservation!
For more information, call Travel and Cruise World at 863/295-9017 or if you’re outside of Polk County, you can call toll-free at 1-800-330-7461. You can also reach them online at www.travelandcruiseworld.com or e-mail info@travelandcruiseworld.com.
Rates include cruisetour, cruise, taxes, fees and SPCA donation. The rates DO NOT include airfare, transfers, travel insurance or gratuities. Fly into Fairbanks and out of Vancouver or Seattle to make it to the ship. Motorcoach transfer will be required if flying out of Seattle.
From Volunteer Coordinator, Alane:
This month I’d like to share the sometimes overlooked volunteer position to our organization, since the long hours happen in our volunteer’s own homes. I am referring to the wonderful dedication of our foster volunteers.
One definition of the word foster is “to promote the growth or development of; to further; to encourage”. To us, it has such a deeper meaning though. It means many sleepless nights, messes to clean up, putting a helpless animal as top priority in your life and endless, around the clock love that our shelter walls cannot provide.
We have dozens of volunteers, including staff, which provide our homeless animals with a safe, loving home and this month I want to say a special thank you to them all.
One such example of a truly dedicated person is Linda Liker, a staff member of ours for over 2 ½ years. She keeps careful record of all the babies she’s cared for; she is now up to 109 animals! I am endlessly astounded and appreciative of all of these individuals.
I asked Donna Breault, SPCA’s Foster Coordinator, if she would put into words just why our foster families are so important to this organization. She replied, “If it wasn’t for our foster families giving our pets a temporary loving home, many pets that come here wouldn’t have a chance, whether it be for their age, health or even just to socialize a scared and confused pet.” She says the most rewarding part of her job as foster coordinator for the SPCA is “seeing foster families bring the pets back; you can just see the passion and love for the pet in their eyes and the gratification they feel that they saved a life”.
When I asked Donna if one foster home stood out to her lately, she quickly answered back with Shari Garrett’s name. “Shari has been a wonderful foster mom, she is very compassionate and she not only once was brave enough to take a whole family of pups with the mom, she did it twice…with no hesitation”. Taking “back to back” mom’s with large litters (one of 8 puppies and one of 10); this family is truly remarkable!
Shari got her start here in March of 2008. After attending orientation, she assisted on and off-site for the past few years, and just recently her son Matt has jumped on board to help the animals as well. Nevertheless, the Garrett family is new to the role of fostering.
Having submitted their foster application a just few months back, they have not turned back, or said no to us yet!
Shari said she became interested in the fostering program when her children began looking for opportunities to earn community service hours required by their schools. The volunteer application listed fostering kittens or puppies as an opportunity, and it spurred their interest.
“Having three rescued dogs and a cat at home,” Shari said, “I have never had the experience of kittens or puppies at home. This seemed like a win-win situation for everyone. And I have to say it has been a delightful experience for my family, friends, neighbors and me.”
Shari’s family has naturally had a lot of fun with the puppies of course, but it’s also included a lot of hard work and lack of sleep. She recently had an emergency with two of the puppies in her care, who were in pain and bleeding from their rectum. She had to take them to the emergency clinic, since it was after hours for the SPCA. Her quick response and dedication to the pups was extraordinary.
Annie, Shari’s daughter, has helped her out tremendously in caring for all the foster pets. Shari said it has been “one of the best things they have ever done together.” It’s been a true bonding experience that has really brought her and her daughter closer. “This volunteer experience has given me many hours of happiness and literally hours of nonstop entertainment.”
Shari, you and your family have such a great attitude and provide our animals with magnificent care. We can’t save lives without amazing individuals like you. Thank you from all of us here.
To find out more about becoming a foster family for the SPCA, please visit us online at www.lovemyspca.com or call 863/646-7722
Happy Friday, everyone!
The SPCA is so excited about an exciting way that you can help us without having to give a penny.
Here’s how to help:
1. Go to http://www.theanimalsheltersite.com and click on the purple box that says “Click Here to Give – It’s FREE!” You’ll be taken to a new page that tells you how each click goes to feed rescue animals.
2. At the top of the new page, there should be a small banner that says “Help your favorite animal shelter win a prise!” Click on that button that says “VOTE TODAY!”
3. A new window should open that allows you to vote for a shelter. And, since we are your favorite shelter, this should be easy. 
Fill out the box with our name “SPCA, Inc.” and state “FL”, and it should bring us up. Then, you can vote!
4. Next you’ll be taken to a page that asks you to identify the animal pictured. Give a simple answer to ensure that you’re not a random computer racking up votes for a shelter. A simple answer like lion, dog, cat, fish, etc. will suffice.
5. You’re done! Thanks for the vote!
Now, every day through April 18, you can come back and vote for us to help us get the prize! I’ve made the page my home page so that I don’t forget to vote every day. You can also include a link to this blog in your e-mail signature or forward this blog to friends so that they can help, too.
Thanks in advance for your help!
From our friend, Jeff, a volunteer pilot with Pilots n’ Paws:
Today’s flight was from Marathon to Daytona Beach and back to Marathon. Davie was to be euthanized last Thursday in Atlanta, GA. A woman at my local bank decided to adopt him, and..a transport [was put] in motion. The shelter was contacted and Davie was pulled. A doctor from Jacksonville, FL flew up to Atlanta and picked up Davie and several other lucky pups and transported them back to Jacksonville. Several rescues drove to Jax and picked up the pups and Davie was on his way to Daytona Beach to be fostered over the weekend by a Labrador Rescue. I flew up to Daytona with the adopter…who plans on keeping Davie’s name the same. A good pirate name like “Davie Jones” is quite fitting for the Florida Keys.
Another beautiful day to be in the air.
Jeff
Name: Tinkerbell
Gender: Female
Age: 6 months
Species: Cat
Breed: Domestic Shorthair
Orphaned Since: 10/28/2009
Tinkerbell has grown up at the SPCA, and she is in great need of a place to call home. Two months have gone by, and she has been putting her best purr forward! Come down to meet this charming black and white kitty. She’s sure to put smile on your face as you get ready for 2010!
Name: Oliver
Gender: Male
Age: 1 year, 3 months
Species: Dog
Breed: Hound/Retriever Mix
Orphaned Since: 12/29/2009
Oliver is one QUALITY DOG! He’s a playful guy that loves to run. In fact, he’s conquered the agility equipment at the SPCA and never grows tired of showing his skill and smarts. If you’re looking for a quality, intelligent, handsome and friendly K9, then, Oliver is the dog for you!
Visit us at the SPCA
Adoption Center open Mon – Sat, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
5850 Brannen Rd S in Lakeland
Call 646-7722
www.lovemyspca.com
All pets are spayed/neutered, microchipped and vaccinations are up to date through our full-service medical center which is also open to the public.
Spay Day 2010 is on Tuesday, February 23, and the SPCA has big plans for that week to recognize this national day of awareness.
Pet overpopulation is a serious problem in our area, region, country and world. There are thousands of pets that are born homeless every day. Spaying and neutering your pet is the only remedy to this problem.
During February, we will send out weekly e-mails to raise awareness of the benefits, myths and general information concerning pet sterilization. You can subscribe today if you’re not a part of our e-mail lists.
And, anyone that has their pet spayed or neutered at the SPCA during the week of Spay Day 2010 will be entered into a drawing to receive a FREE year’s supply of Revolution or Advantage. What a deal! You can make your pet’s appointment by calling 863/646-7722.
Spread the word with us and help us combat pet overpopulation!
