Tuesday, May 21, 2013
This week's adoptable pet feature is a senior dog named Pandy.
This week's adoptable feature comes from Pasco County Animal Services Adoption Partners. Pandy is a senior dog and was recently featured on the service's Saturday Senior spotlight. She is a 7- or 8-year-old blue heeler in the Australian Cattledog family. The breed's characteristics include high energy, extreme intelligence and a tendency to love open spaces, according to American Kennel Club. Pandy had been overfed in her previous home, according to Pasco Animal Services, and is looking for a new workout partner. This playful girl wants to be the center of attention and would need to be the only pet in the home. Pasco County Animal Services is located at 19640 Dogpatch Lane. in Land O' Lakes. To inquire about an adoption, email …
Thursday, April 11, 2013
In recognition of National Pet Day, New Port Richey Patch is taking some time out to honor those special critters that often make our lives just a little more complete, but we need your help!
Whether they’re furry, feathered or just a little bit scaly, pets are awesome. That’s a point that a large percentage of Americans seem to agree upon. The Humane Society of the United States says there are about 78.2 million dogs owned in the United States. An estimated 86.4 million cats have homes to call their own. Collectively, Americans spent a whopping $53.33 billion on pet-related expenses in 2012, according to the American Pet Products Association. We’re on track to break that number in 2013 by more than $2 billion. The numbers speak volumes about just how much Americans love their pets. So does this interesting tidbit from the American Veterinary Medical Association’s website: “In 2011, six-out-of-ten pet owners, or 63.2%, …
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
The county’s animal shelter no longer accepts feral cats and strays.
New Port Richey residents who are tired of hearing the mewing of feral cats in their neighborhoods at night can no longer round them up for a drop off at Pasco County Animal Services. As part of its Save 90% program, the county has decided to change the way it handles intakes. That program charges the county with saving 90 percent of the animals brought into its Land O’ Lakes shelter. Feral cats and strays, however, can make that goal difficult to obtain. That’s why the county has put the brakes on its old policy of accepting cats carte blanche. It’s also decided it will no longer accept cats – and dogs – that owners want to have euthanized. The county will, however, still accept owner-surrender cats, but only on a few specific days of the…
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Pasco County is giving pets away during a one-day Spring Cleaning event April 6.
New Port Richey residents who have been waiting for the right time to adopt a dog or a cat might find it doesn’t get better than this Saturday, April 6. That’s the day Pasco County Animal Services will host a “Spring Cleaning” event designed to reduce the number of cats and dogs housed at the 19640 Dogpatch Lane shelter in Land O' Lakes. From noon to 8 p.m., the shelter will open its doors to give away cats and dogs to new owners at no charge. The critters will even be spayed or neutered at no additional cost. Potential dog adoptees might have to pay a $10 county licensing fee, but that’s it, according to Judy Tate Gregory, spokeswoman for the agency. The county normally charges $70 for dog adoptions and $40 for cats. “In an effort to move…
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
The county has named an acting director until a replacement can be found.
Pasco County Animal Services is on a mission to “Save 90” percent of the creatures that come through its doors. It’s going to have to do so, however, without the direction of John Malley. Malley, the agency’s director, resigned from his post this week as the agency continues to operate under scrutiny from elected officials and residents. Suzanne Salichs, assistant county administrator for public services, confirmed the resignation April 2. “Mr. Kevin Mallory, Animal Services Supervisor, is now in an acting manager capacity until the position has been advertised, interviews are held and the new manager starts,” Salichs wrote in an email. Malley’s performance at animal services has been brought into question by volunteers at the Land O’ …
Thursday, March 28, 2013
A special event that includes free adoptions is taking place Thursday, March 28.
West Pasco residents hoping to find a furry best friend to call their own might want to stop by “Dogs Day Out.” This special one-day event takes place today, March 28, at the West Pasco Government Center, 8731 Citizens Drive, in New Port Richey. Pasco County Animal Services will be on hand from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to show off dogs that are ready and waiting to go home with new owners. On-site adoptions and same-day take home will be offered. (There may be a $10 fee for county licensing). Pasco County Animal Service’s currently has more dogs available for homes than it has space in its Land O’ Lakes shelter. A push is on to raise awareness about the dogs that are available for adoption. Residents who can’t make it out to the West Pasco …
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Pasco County Animal Services is giving away cats and dogs to those who want to provide them with forever homes during an April 6 event. Special pricing also continues through March.
Looking for a cat or dog to call your own? Pasco County Animal Services has an option coming up that won’t cost you a dime. It’s playing host to a “Spring Cleaning Event” Saturday, April 6 from noon to 8 p.m. at the 19640 Dogpatch Lane shelter in Land O’ Lakes. During that time period, residents can come in and pick out a pet for free. The only charge for dog adoptions will be a $10 licensing fee. The normal cost for adoptions is $70 for dogs and $40 for cats. There’s also an Easter special going on that provides discounts through March 30. The amount of the discount ranges from $10 off to completely free. For more information about the spring cleaning event or the Easter specials, visit animal services online.
Commissioner Pat Mulieri is trying to raise awareness about the number of adoptable dogs and cats currently available at the county shelter as dogs are being doubled up in kennels to make room.
Pasco County Animal Services started 2013 with a flurry of activity promoting adoptions and working to achieve a goal of saving 90 percent of the creatures in its care from euthanasia. Free adoptions were sponsored by community leaders in January and February. Community outreach and special events were planned and promoted, and things were looking up as far as adoptions were concerned. Then March arrived. Now, the number of animals in the county shelter in Land O’ Lakes is on the rise, and available housing for cats and dogs especially is fast running out. ”They’re starting to double up in the cages,” said Pasco County Commissioner Pat Mulieri. “We did very well in February — 125 adoptions. In March, the adoptions have been slower.” …
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
The agency is hoping to increase staffing in the near future.
Staffing levels at Pasco County Animal Services are about to increase. When Pasco County Commissioners approved a new business plan for the agency last week, they also gave a green light to a request to hire a new full-time veterinarian and two full-time veterinary technicians, essentially doubling the agency’s veterinary staff. Right now, the agency, which is based in Land O’ Lakes, but serves most of the county, has one veterinarian and two veterinary technicians on staff. Those veterinary workers have “performed 2,000 sterilization surgeries for those animals adopted by the public during the last 20 months,” the business plan states as part of the reason for wanting the new hires. The new employees would concentrate almost entirely on …
Sunday, January 27, 2013
To reach its "Save 90 Percent" goal, more community involvement is needed.
Pasco County Animal Services wants to save more animals, and it is reaching out to county residents to help them do it. The organization needs volunteers ages 15 and older to assist with socializing animals, walking dogs, cleaning, photographing, grant writing, administrative assistance and other duties, Education and Volunteer Coordinator Judy Tate Gregory said. To save the lives of more animals and move toward animal services' "Save 90 Percent" goal, more community involvement is needed, Tate said in a media release. "Our volunteers are the best," Gregory said. "They take pictures of our animals, help us at adoption events, clean, play with cats, walk dogs, whatever you ask. If it means helping the animals, they will assist." …
Sherri Lonon
7:03 pm on Thursday, April 11, 2013
Thank you all for sharing your great stories and awesome photos! Would love to see more ... they're making my day! more ›