Video: Gulfport's Get Rescued's Full of Puppy Love

The 9th Annual Gulfport's Get Rescued event introduced numerous attendees to their new best friends.

Gulfport was full of wagging tails as the annual pet street festival filled Beach Boulevard this past Saturday, February 23. Thousands of people came to the event and some found new friends in the form of animals during the day. "It's not just a pet. It becomes part of your family," said Alexis Huzzard of Rugaz Rescue. Make sure to watch our video above to see more of the adorable adoptables that were out enjoying the day and looking for homes. Did you adopt an animal at Get Rescued? If so, show us a photo of you and your new loved one.  Related Coverage: Photo Gallery: Gulfport's Get Rescued 2013 Sign up for the Gulfport Patch email newsletter to stay connected to your community.

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Gulfport's Get Rescued Just Around the Corner

Mark your calendars for the 9th Annual Gulfport's Get Rescued animal rescue festival and fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 23 in downtown Gulfport!

Are you ready for dogs, cats, and other furry friends to take over downtown Gulfport? The ninth annual animal rescue festival and fundraiser, Gulfport's Get Rescued is less than a month away! Mark your calendars: This popular event has evolved from one block and a handful of animal rescue groups in its first year to a popular and festive event representing as many as 60 animal rescue groups from throughout the region.  Gulfport's Get Rescued is one of the largest animal rescue events in the state, with all profits to benefit participating non-profit rescue groups. Animal rescue organizations, many appearing with adoptable pets, take over Beach Blvd. to raise money and awareness for their causes. Additionally, animal-related vendors, …

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Rescue Me

Hillsborough Moving Toward No-Kill Animal Shelter

Hillsborough County is taking steps to drastically reduce euthanasia of shelter animals. Let's continue this movement in Pinellas!

Hillsborough County took a huge step forward in the animal community a couple of weeks ago by moving toward making its animal shelter a no-kill zone. Hillsborough County Animal Services has been trying to get its euthanasia number down. It has gone down from 30,000 in 2005 to 14,000 last year. What a great feat! Now, the county is trying for even fewer. Now, there are always going to be some exceptions to the rule, such as very sick dogs that cannot be saved, but those things cannot be helped.  Animal Services employees are being redirected in how to maintain operations while saving most animals from euthanasia. Some of the steps that they are working on are: This is a huge thing, and I hope that it will come to Pinellas County. A group …

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Rescue Me

A Good Reason Pet Adoptions Take So Long

Rescues are careful to place pets into loving homes for the animal's own protection.

Some say it is easier to adopt a child than it is to adopt a dog from a rescue. Now whether you believe this or not, I have to say, there is a good reason for it. The rescue I volunteer with checks references, does a house check, and does home trials before anyone is allowed to officially adopt a dog. You may be asking why a rescue would go through all of that. Isn’t the point to get the dogs adopted into a home? Well, that is partially true. Yes, the rescues want to get the dogs adopted, but they want the dogs adopted into a good home. After reading an article a couple days ago, I became furious! I read an article about a woman in New Port Richey that saw a dachshund in her neighbor’s yard, whimpering with blood coming from its mouth.  …

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Cherlene Willis

7:31 pm on Wednesday, April 25, 2012

I really appreciate you all sharing your concerns, questions and personal stories! This is what Patch is all about - conversation in our community! - Cherlene   more ›

Rescue Me

Dog Finds a Home Through Splints, Casts and Support

Dr. Caroline Thomas and the veterinary technicians did anything they could to give this little guy a chance at a normal life.

A little dog was surrendered to Pinellas County Animal Services by his owner around the first week of March. His legs were deformed, but his spirit was not. Luckily, the workers and volunteers saw this.  Animal Services contacted Dr. Caroline Thomas, who specializes in orthopedics. After evaluating the dog, Dr. Thomas decided to put his legs in splints/casts for a week to try to straighten them. After a week, she would remove the casts/splints and re-evaluate him. She believed that no surgery would be required, and he was such a love that Dr. Thomas and the veterinary technicians did anything they could to give this little guy a chance at a normal life. A friend of mine, Andrea Barlow, an Animal Services and Dunedin Doggie Rescue volunteer…

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Rescue Me

How the Little Dog I Rescued Saved Me

I learned more about love and devotion from my battered little dog than anyone or anything else in my whole life.

Last week, I brought you a story about Murphy, a dog who was going to be put to sleep because of aggression. Luckily for Murphy, a gentleman was there, and he saw something in Murphy's eyes.  Years later, the gentleman needed Murphy as much as Murphy needed him the years before. The gentleman was nice enough to share the story of how he acquired Murphy, and how Murphy stood by his side during his time of need. This is their story. One fateful Christmas holiday weekend day, I was assisting with a tragic bird rescue at the SPCA Tampa Bay. They busted a bird breeder and seized over a hundred parrots that had been starved, abused and stuffed into small cages with no perches, food or water. We spent hours cleaning, rehabilitating, feeding and …

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Pleasure Doing Business

Pleasure Doing Business: Salon M

Marta Woodhead opened Salon M in summer 2009 and life is good on Beach Blvd.

To step inside Marta Woodhead's Salon M on Beach Blvd. is to feel at home. The proprietor is the stylist and the only employee, yet with a gentle nature she has created a space that has become a destination for many in the area since she opened in August 2009. Originally from California, she moved to New York and by 22 was trained as a hair dresser and working in the hair and makeup union for commercials, television, industrial videos, film and print advertising. “I had a lot of friends that worked in the film business as scenic artists, writers, electricians and they inspired me to test to join the union for makeup artists,” she remembers. “I passed the test and then started working in the film business.” At the same time she opened her …

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Pleasure Doing Business

Pleasure Doing Business: Reef Dog

Marry O'Malley has made Reef Dog into one of the most recognizable businesses in Gulfport.

Mary O'Malley has been grooming and caring for dogs for a long time but it took a wrong turn to bring her to Gulfport. The owner of Reef Dog on Beach Boulevard doesn't hide her love for dogs or the fact that she owns a local business, as evidenced by the bright blue “Reef Dog” pickup truck she drives around town emblazoned with the name of her store and painted blue flowers. Reef Dog has been a Gulfport business for seven years now with more than 3,000 customers in its database. They come from as far as Gainesville and know their little family members are in good hands with Mary and her two assistants. She builds her customer base through word-of-mouth but it helps to have a fun, beach-themed web site, a surf board planted in front of the …

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Drawing for Dachshunds

Eunice Fisher draws pets of all kinds. Hear how she uses her gift to help a local animal rescue group.

Most of the drawings Eunice Fisher creates are from photos people sent into her via her website. Fisher is an artist who specializes in paintings and drawings of cute and adorable pets that people hold dear to their hearts. Fisher was out at Gulfport's Get Rescued Fundraiser on Feb. 26th in Gulfport offering quick sketches of animals for $15. She uses black pencil to make the quick sketches and is careful to express the details on the animals that give them each their own unique personality. “Sometimes people will get a sketch and then come back and say that they'd like a full portrait,” Fisher said. Ten percent of Fisher's earnings at pet shows and events are donated to the Dachshund Adoption, Rescue and Education (DARE), Fisher …

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Viewfinder

Viewfinder: Furry Faces of Gulfport's Get Rescued

Adorable animals were everywhere on Beach Boulevard during the 7th Annual Gulfport's Get Rescued.

Gulfport's Get Rescued premier fundraiser lured droves of animals and their owners to downtown Beach Boulevard on Saturday Feb. 26th. With snacks for pets and people, vendors selling pet clothing and toys and a fashion show for the best dressed pets, there was something for every pooch, cat and person there. Along with the pets who came with their owners, there was a multitude of furry friends up for adoption from the many rescue organizations who came. Aside from the more traditional house pets, bird and wildlife sanctuaries from around Florida came down to help inform people about their individual causes. In case you and your furry friend missed it, here are some photos of the fantastic animals that were out and about.

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