Author: Humane Society of Tampa Bay

Written by Guest Blogger: Diana Miller

Full Article with Video: https://topdogtips.com/dog-smuggling-business/ 

One of the largest animal welfare issues is the one that most people aren’t aware of: puppy trafficking. As the popularity of pets, dogs in particular, continues to rise, the illegal business of dog smuggling has seen immense growth all across the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Thailand, Singapore and more.

Animal smuggling is on the rise, and wannabe pet owners, looking for “designer” dogs and young pups of specific breeds, buying dogs from illegal breeders or other unidentified sources, are the reason why this problem has gotten completely out of hand.

Smuggling is the act of either sneaking in goods and merchandise (including animals) from one country into another or falsifying documentation in order to do so. The main motivation for this illegal task is profit. There are often three reasons smuggled goods make money:

  • 1) goods at a lower tax rate are available outside of one’s country
  • 2) the demand for the goods can’t be met within one’s country and so another resource is taken advantage of,
  • 3) the goods are found in another country at a lower cost and then purchased within one’s country by an unwitting consumer.

In order to understand how the business of dog smuggling (or puppy trafficking) works, it’s important to look at determining factors, such as economic structures of border countries and states as well as the policies that make smuggling more or less difficult.

Economics, Politics, and Supply-and-Demand

Smuggling occurs as a way to get around unsavory legislation (often imposing tariffs or border regulation) while further legislation is created to put a stop to smuggling.

It’s difficult to stop a system that works so well, however. When an item is in demand, two parties play key roles and both benefit: the Buyer gets what they want (a coveted item) and the Seller gets what they want (money). And while many associate smuggling with firearms and drugs, there’s another item on the rise: puppies.

Currently, the pet care industry is one of the largest and fastest growing in the world. Americans spend an estimated $1,200 on their pet each year (not including routine veterinary care). The American Pet Products Association estimated that the U.S. spent over 72 billion dollars on pet care products in 2018; that’s a jump from the amount spent during 2017: 69.51 billion. While the desire for having dogs as pets in America is apparent, smuggling of these common household pets is made easier by the economic differences between the United States and its neighbor, Mexico.

The U.S. and Mexico border illustrates a mutually-beneficial, albeit illegal, operation of puppy and dog smuggling. Dogs purchased in Mexico for as little as $50 are transported to the United States where Americans are not only willing but able to pay as much as $1,000 for their new pet. Small dog breeds such as Chihuahuas, Poodles, and French Bulldogs are some of the most sought-after and can fetch a pretty penny.

Sadly, many of these animals come from inhumane conditions and carry life-threatening diseases, such as distemper and parvovirus. These diseases are not only brought into their new country, but typically lead to an early death, causing both heartbreak and costly veterinarian bills for the owner.

This pattern is also seen in the economically successful city-state of Singapore, where animal smugglers risk jail time and penalties in order to illegally export puppies from surrounding, more impoverished communities to find a wealthier market. Many other countries, including Thailand, China and Vietnam, are also dealing with this problem, albeit less successfully than the U.S. In Thailand, in one month alone, it’s not unusual for a single patrol to rescue approx. 800 dogs inhumanely stuffed into wire cages.

As dog smuggling business continues to experience growth due to popularity of pets, the West isn’t unaffected either. Many European countries are aware of this problem but little is done to deal with it effectively or discourage animal smuggles further. The United Kingdom has also seen a steady rise of profitability when it comes to pet accessories, foods, and toys, with the most current statistics showing over 5 billion euros annually. The country has become a telling example for how policy can affect the global rise of dog smuggling.

The U.K. has seen dog smuggling escalate rapidly within the past five years, with a spike occurring during the holiday season of 2017. Puppies as young as four weeks old are illegally trafficked into the country on a regular basis. The date the problem became worse isn’t a direct correlation to the Brexit vote results during the summer of 2016 as much as it is an issue of supply-and-demand and the introduction of The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) in 2012. Due to this and other related legal loopholes, dog smuggles are now motivated to commit to 30-hour trips from Europe to the U.K. in order to traffic as many young pups into the country as they can.

PETS allows dogs of only 15 weeks of age to travel into Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and it also commits to a more lax stance on vaccinations. And although the decision to leave the European Union isn’t set to greatly affect the United Kingdom until well into 2019, some politicians and citizens alike anticipate complications with both trade policies and border control (especially the 300 mile stretch between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which has remained peacefully unprotected for the past 40 years). However, many animal welfare organizations in the U.K. are calling the Brexit referendum an opportunity to reverse PETS. Whether this opportunity will be acknowledged and properly applied is yet to be seen.

However, change to or further regulation is not guaranteed to end illegal puppy transporting. In truth, so long as demand for “designer” breeds exists, illegal activity will find a way to operate and supply this demand. Dog smuggling acts much like any other legal business would: there’s a hierarchy of “employees” who all play specific roles in order to dodge legislation and at the end of a successful work day, there’s a paycheck. And the bill is fitted by ill-educated buyers.

Moreover, the legal system and authorities still do not take puppy trafficking (or animal cruelty) as serious as they should, and the laws in many countries – including the U.K. – are often too lax. Punishment is mild enough for dog smuggles not to be discouraged to profit from this illegal activity. For example, a 54-year old man from Killearn Crescent, Plains was only given a “ban” and a $3,300 fine for mistreatment and trading of many dogs, even though it’s been known to investigators that the man has a long history of animal cruelty.

The Buyers of Smuggled Dogs

The Buyers of Smuggled Dogs

A large part as to why dog smuggling works is due to those purchasing a pet that was illegally and often inhumanely transported. Many animal welfare organizations across the globe attempt to educate the community about the importance of knowing their puppy’s seller, but informative pamphlets and blog posts often fall by the way-side as soon as a future-owner sees floppy ears and cute puppy-dog eyes.

As we’ve seen through examples around the world, animal smuggling businesses are apt to commit fraud, creating fake vaccination papers and passports. And it’s because of this that many future pet owners are unaware of their dog’s early life and this is often because they are lied to by dog smugglers.

The internet plays a large part in the dog smuggling business’ success. This platform that’s available 24/7 around the world allows buyers to search through hundreds of photographs of puppies for sale, read short profiles about the canines (which, typically, are also not based on truth) and contact the seller directly to set up a time to meet/buy the dog.

The Sellers That Smuggle Dogs

Sellers may pose themselves as an animal sanctuary or revered breeder and the unsuspecting buyer buys not only the puppy but the charade. Others may choose to sell their smuggled animals to local pet shops, who are either unwitting or don’t care about the seller’s source.

The dog smuggling business relies on the falsification of documents which calls for otherwise trusted individuals to do. Following the example of puppy smuggling issues in the United Kingdom, investigations found that veterinarians in certain countries were willing to alter information concerning the birth and/or vaccination dates if paid to do so.

Once the puppy is considered old enough to travel – usually below the age many would recommend or what is federal law in the U.S. or other countries – and the appropriate documents (although typically falsified) are gathered, the smuggler plans their travel.

Driving is preferred over air travel as security is anything but lax in most international airports. While border check points still exist when driving hundreds, sometimes thousands, of miles with dogs by your side, searches of the vehicle are often random enough to be avoided, especially if the driver doesn’t cause suspicion or can pose as a commuter. Many animal smugglers prepare for a vehicle search, however, often placing the puppies in hidden small, hidden compartments that are hollowed out or designed by the smugglers themselves.

However, in order to do all of this, sellers need a source from which they gain their puppies. And while it’s true that some dog smugglers consider themselves a Renaissance man of sorts – breeding, smuggling, and selling the puppy all by themselves – it’s more often that an additional resource is available to help, making their operation easier and them less liable.

The Main Source in Dog Smuggling

Utilizing a middle man, or “source”, protects the identity of the smuggler as well as keeps their tasks simple: the less time they must spend homing their snuck-in product, the more time they can spend traveling back and forth, keeping the money and operation constantly flowing.

Often, these sources are puppy breeding farms, or puppy mills, which routinely impregnate their female dogs so that their “product” (puppies) can continuously be available.

Sometimes these operations are able to work because they may exist in a country with lesser or no animal welfare regulations. Meaning, inhumane puppy breeding can occur with almost no interruption. These often unhealthy puppies are then picked up by the smuggler who may pose as an adopter and pay for the animals, or may even be in on the operation, splitting their profits with the illegal breeders.

Why Dog Smuggling Is an Animal Welfare Issue
He’Art of Rescue / SWNS

Why Dog Smuggling Is an Animal Welfare Issue

Puppies in particular are in danger of being smuggled, as their size allow for easier hiding. Investigations carried out by organizations like PETA, ASPCA, and DogsTrust (a British organization) have founded that smuggled pups are often inhumanely treated. Just this last September, a San Antonio man tried to smuggle 25 puppies and was caught at a checkpoint in Laredo, Texas. Trafficked puppies were clearly inhumanely treated, all covered in their own feces and urine, and stuffed inside duffel bags like old clothes.

There are many more cases like this.

One investigation found a container of puppies that was plastic wrapped with only a small hole allowing them to breathe while another found severe cases of skin infections imparted by inhumane conditions during transportation. It’s also common for these puppies to be restrained, immobile, and muzzled for as long as the journey between borders takes.

Sadly, the pet industry is not exclusive to canines and it’s a worldwide issue. Often, these animals, reptiles and birds are heavily drugged, uncomfortably contained, denied food, water, or a humane place to waste for hours, sometimes days. It’s not uncommon for smuggled animals to die during the journey.

How You Can Help

Buyers (or future pet adopters) can help break this illegal and harmful system by investigating the source they wish to buy a puppy from. You can ask to meet the puppy’s parents, ask to visit the seller’s home to see the conditions the puppy comes from. Any denial to these simple requests should raise red flags and you may or may not choose to report their information to a local animal rights organization for further investigation.

While policies often do little to stop dog smuggling, one thing that could damper it is a shrunken market. If everyone refused to purchase smuggled animals, and in general do better research into where the puppies are coming from to avoid illegal breeders and puppy mills, animal smugglers would see their business slowly diminish.

To-do list on how to avoid fostering puppy trafficking when getting a dog:

  • Always ask to see the puppy’s parents together with the pup
  • Never meet the seller anywhere else other than where the puppy lives
  • Do not purchase a dog from a place that sells more than one breed
  • Come to see the pet you want to adopt more than once
  • Don’t buy pups that look unhealthy, underweight or too young (do report them)
  • Ensure there’s paperwork for the dog, take it and bring it with you
  • If there are any red flags, walk away and report the place to local authorities
  • Bring your new puppy to a veterinarian for a check-up right away
  • Do not allow to be pressured into purchasing an animal

It’s better to adopt, not shop for a puppy. But if you do prefer to buy a dog of specific breed, make sure to get one only from a reputable breeder that operates legally.

 

Written by Guest Blogger: Mary Nielsen

Primarily, you should make plans to spay or neuter your pet because it is in the best interest of your pet. You would, of course, be getting some advantages such as your pet will be cleaner and more well-behaved. In the end it is your pet’s comfort and health that comes first. Here are the reasons you should consider spaying or neutering your pet.

Every Life Counts

If your pet does not have testicles or a uterus then he or she cannot get cancer or tumors in those areas. The chances of contracting various different types of tumors and cancer are much lowered after spaying and neutering.  Plus, generally speaking, sexual alteration can prolong a dog’s life by a year or three or even more. It can prolong a cat’s life by as much as three to five years.  Not going on heat means that your pet is less likely to do things that could lead to trouble like straying from home or getting into fights with other animals. Spaying and neutering will offer your pet a healthier and longer life.

End Animal Homelessness

It’s a wonderful idea to deeply consider how spaying and neutering can relate to other animals. Several millions of unwanted stray dogs and cats are turned over to shelters every year. Many of these poor animals will never find a loving forever home. Unfortunately, this can often lead to euthanasia. Spaying or neutering will prevent this awful regularity from continuing. The expense tending to unwanted animals can run into the billions. Considering that some shelters rely strictly on charitable donations, this is money not easily come by.

Behavior Improvements

This won’t fix every behavior problem, but lessening a male pet’s testosterone levels may result in him being a little less aggressive. A female who no longer feels compelled to let everyone know that she’s available will not yowl or spray. That disconcerting mounting behavior that is the punchline of many a trite dog joke will not become reality if your dog is altered by age of six months. The vet may be able to operate when your pet is as young as eight weeks, given that your pet is in ideal health.

Do you want to learn more about other very good reasons to spay or neuter your pet? Then please take some time to look over this infographic. Your pet will be glad you did!

How to Help Your Pet Get The Most Sleep

Written by: Jackie Kepler

Everyone needs sleep — even pets. You might think your pet’s sleep needs are similar to yours (as they may do most of their sleeping when you do), but the fact is animals have unique sleep needs and sometimes need help getting all of the rest they need.

The good news is animals are often flexible sleepers. They can adjust their schedule to sleep when you’re resting, out of the house, or otherwise not likely to engage with them. But even flexible sleepers can struggle to sleep well sometimes, and you can offer help as a pet parent.

How Much Sleep Pets Need

While most adult humans need somewhere in the neighborhood of eight hours of sleep each night, you can count on pets such as cats and dogs needing at least 12 hours of sleep. But it doesn’t necessarily all happen at night.

Dogs often have a sleep schedule similar to human toddlers. They need about 12 to 14 hours of sleep each 24 hour period. However, puppies or elderly dogs, extremely active dogs or large breeds may need more than that. They may consolidate most of their sleep at night during your rest period, then make up the rest of their sleep needs with daytime naps.

Cats are known for their naps, and for a good reason: The average cat sleeps between 12 to 16 hours each day (more for kittens and elderly cats). And with that much sleeping, there’s bound to be plenty of daytime napping. Like dogs, cats may adjust their schedule to yours. But generally, you can expect cats to be most active at dawn and dusk.

How to Help Pets Sleep Well

Pets may not need your help to sleep well. They may be able to rely on natural instincts and manage their own sleep needs. But if you notice your pet sleeping less than usual or acting tired while not getting the rest they need, you might need to intervene.

  • Offer a healthy diet. Sleep and overall health go hand in hand. Eating junk food or a meal that’s too large before bed can make it tough for pets to get to sleep, so feed them an appropriate amount at a time that’s early enough to give them a couple hours to digest before they should go to sleep for the night.
  • Make sure they’re active. Wearing your pet out during the day can make for a night of more restful sleep. Offer regular physical activity, stimulation, and attention during the day.
  • Give them a healthy place to sleep. Like any member of the family, your pet needs a bed where they can rest and feel comfortable. Consider their needs and offer a bed that will help them sleep well at night.
  • Take care of their needs before you go to sleep. Pets may lie awake at night needing to go out to use the bathroom, hungry for a snack, or just wanting attention. Before you head off to bed, take some time to connect and make sure you’ve met their needs so they can rest without interruption.

As flexible sleepers with natural instincts, you shouldn’t be overly concerned with your pet’s sleep, but too little or too much could indicate a problem that needs addressing. If you’re worried about how much your pet is sleeping, talk to your vet about their sleep patterns and offer support for healthy sleep.

Jackie Kepler is a MattressReviews.net sleep professional. She enjoys sleeping with cats, but sleeps on a king size bed because she needs her space, too.

Featuring: Our Mission in Action

On February 6, 2019, with the help of Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center 10 Havanese mixes were rescued from a hoarding cruelty case in Temple Terrace and placed in our care. The dogs arrived with matted and tangled fur with caked on feces and smelled strongly of urine. In need of help to get these pups cleaned up we reached out to our community on Facebook for grooming volunteers. We received an amazing response and are incredibly thankful for our community! View their transformations below.

*We will announce on our social media platforms when they are available for adoption. 

Grooming Volunteers: Emilie Desrochers from Petsville Citrus Park, Rebecca Lamunyan from Bow Wow Beautician, Melanie Denick from Diego’s Dog Grooming,  Ashley Bennett and Maggie Brenner

Photography & Documentation: Adam Goldberg from AGoldPhoto Pet Photography

 Video of Transformation:

Before & After Photos:

Buttons

Connie

JoJo

Maggie

Rover

Sasha

Shelly

Snowey

Tank

Wendy

We received a call that a frail, thin dog was spotted in a field on Hanna Avenue. Our Community Outreach Manager, Darlene Esposito, immediately responded to the situation. Darlene along with two other staff members (Crystal Lufriu, Lead Kennel Attendant & Dana Johnson, Foster Care Coordinator) approached the scene and at first were unable to see or hear the reported dog. They walked back deep into the field and noticed a shed. Upon careful observance, the team began to hear small cries coming from shed. The shed was locked, but Darlene noticed a small hole underneath the shed. She immediately began to make her way under the shed following the whimpering noises. After a few minutes of searching, she found the source of the cries – 8 puppies!

Darlene carefully pulled all 8 puppies from underneath the shed with the help of Crystal and Dana. The puppies were immediately brought to our medical suite and assessed. All puppies appear to be in good condition and are approximately 14 days old, but this is not the end of this rescue tale…

We needed to rescue their mother. Darlene returned to the field that night and after making a careful assessment of the situation she decided to set a trap and was able to successfully retrieve her in the morning. The mother to these pups was malnourished and in need of care. Our team reunited the mother with her puppies and began giving her the medical attention she needed.

Mom has been named Winter and her puppies are named – Wanda, Wilbur, Whoopi, Waldo, Wren, Willa, Wade, and Winnie. All dogs are doing well! We are currently working back with our foster database coordinating a home for all 9 dogs so that mom and babies can stay together.

Watch footage of the incredible rescue tale:

New Year’s Eve, Independence Day, and other holidays are exciting events for us humans, but some pets are severely distressed by the noise of fireworks. Remember, dogs’ and cats’ hearing is much more sensitive than ours so those loud booms can be extremely uncomfortable! Here are some tips for keeping your pets safe and calm during the holiday festivities.

First and foremost, it’s important to know how to approach or interact with your pet if they are frightened. Your Dog Advisor stresses the importance of speaking in a calm voice and having non-threatening body posture when interacting with an anxious or frightened pet. You must go at your pet’s pace, as forcing a fearful dog or cat to do something will only make matters worse. If you try to touch or engage your pet before they are ready, it will only cause them more anxiety and fear. Make sure your body language is completely non-threatening. Your pet is already scared, so you don’t want to frighten them even more! Appear relaxed, approach them from an angle instead of head-on, and speak in a soft voice to let your pet know you are trustworthy.

Keep all pets safely confined indoors on the holidays and the days leading up to them when people may be inclined to set off fireworks. There are many family and group activities that are perfect for pets, but a public fireworks display or any other type of gathering where fireworks will be set off usually isn’t one of them.

It’s best to leave your pets safely indoors, preferably with a radio or TV on at normal volume (too loud makes things worse) to dampen jarring noises. Pets usually kept outdoors should be brought inside as an extra measure of safety.

Never leave your pet in a parked car, even at night during a fireworks display. On a warm day, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise to dangerous levels within minutes. On an 85 degree day, for example, the temperature inside a car even with the windows cracked open can reach 102 degrees within just 10 minutes; after 30 minutes the temperature will reach 120 degrees. Even when the temperature outside is a balmy 72 degrees, the temperature inside your car can rocket to a fatal 116 degrees in less than an hour’s time.

Consult our animal hospital or your veterinarian if your pet is distressed by loud noises like fireworks displays. There are a variety of medications and techniques to help alleviate your pet’s fear and anxiety.

Invest in a Thundershirt. Our shelter has had great success with Thundershirts for our pets who are easily stressed by loud noises and other causes of anxiety. Visit the Thundershirts website to find out more about these great tools.

Ensure your pet is wearing a collar and identification tag with current contact information so you can be reunited quickly if your pet does escape. We also suggest writing your name and phone number in permanent ink on the inside of your pet’s collar, just in case the tags get lost. All pets, even those kept indoors full-time, should wear collars with identification tags at all times. Indoor-only animals can become so frightened during fireworks displays that they take desperate measures to escape the noise, such as breaking through window or door screens.

Microchip your pet with your current contact information registered with the chip company. This gives your pet the best chance of being identified and returned to you. Our animal hospital offers microchipping for just $30.

If your pet does become lost, visit our Lost and Found Pets page for tips on what to do.

Help your pets weather the SWARM

Summer is here and with the warm breezes, sparkling seas, and colorful blooms comes a whole host of critters that can harm your pets! Here in Florida, we deal with pests all year long, but even more so in the hot, steamy months when they thrive. It is more important than ever to protect your pet from bites, irritations, and diseases that these tiny troops can cause. Our animal hospital is stocked with the necessary medications to keep your pets safe, all at affordable costs!

FLEAS

  • Fleas are the most common external parasites found on pets
  • Fleas bite the skin and feed on blood
  • Fleas can jump up to 2 feet
  • Fleas can live as long as 12 months
  • Fleas can produce millions of offspring during their lifetime
  • Many pets are allergic to fleas and their bites cause dermatitis
  • Fleas can also cause itching, hair loss and hot spots
  • Fleas can transmit tapeworms to pets

TICKS

  • Ticks are in the arachnid family and feed on blood
  • Ticks bury their heads in their hosts skin and gorge on blood
  • Ticks tend to live in tall brush and grass
  • Ticks can cause
    • blood loss
    • anemia
    • tick paralysis
    • skin irritation and infection
    • Lyme disease (can be fatal if left untreated)
    • Cytauxzoonosis (fatal, no known cure)

MOSQUITOES

  • Mosquitoes are the most problematic parasite because they carry deadly Heartworms
  • Heartworm larvae are transmitted from mosquitoes to pets
  • The larvae travel through the blood to the heart, lungs and blood vessels
  • The larvae grow into spaghetti-like Heartworms
  • Heartworms can grow up to 12 inches long
  • Heartworms clog organs and obstruct blood flow leading to trouble breathing and possible cardiac arrest
  • Heartworms can be fatal if left untreated

PREVENTION

Monthly topical or oral medications are available that kill and/or sterilize fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes when they bite your animal. While these flea/tick preventions are available at supermarkets, Walmarts, and the like, we highly recommend getting them from a licensed veterinarian. Heartworm prevention is only available with a prescription and requires bloodwork every 6 – 12 months.  Whichever product you choose, it is very important not to use products on your cat that are intended for dogs. Cats who have been poisoned by taking flea/tick/heartworm medicine for dogs are a regular occurrence at our animal hospital and many of them do not survive.

DOLLY’S DREAM

& HSTB PARTNERSHIP

The Humane Society of Tampa Bay has partnered with Dolly’s Dream to help save the lives of square-headed dogs. Because of the stigma of their looks, many dogs of breeds associated with large, square-shaped heads languish in or are euthanized* at shelters every day. Dolly’s Dream partners with humane societies to rescue and re-home these magnificent, misunderstood dogs and joined forces with the Humane Society of Tampa Bay in July 2017 to sponsor two adoptable dogs every month for six months. This partnership has continued through the years and is ongoing. We have adopted 96 dogs through the Dolly’s Dream program thus far.

*The Humane Society of Tampa Bay is a managed admission (no-kill for space) shelter and does not euthanize animals in their adoption program to free up kennel space.

ADOPT A DOLLY’S

DREAM DOG

Dolly’s Dogs will be identified with a sign on their kennel and

their pictures will be posted below each month.

DOLLY’S DREAM DOG
ADOPTIONS TO DATE
0

QUESTIONS

Adoption Staff at 813.876.7138 or Adopt@HumaneSocietyTampa.org

 

 

 

 

DOLLY’S DREAM DOGS INCLUDE:

  • 3 In-Home Training Sessions with a Certified Dog Trainer

  • Bandanna

  • Collar

  • Dog Bed

  • Food & Water Bowls

  • Harness

  • ID Tag

  • Leash

  • Toys

  • Training Crate

  • Training Treat Bag

DOLLY’S SUCCESS STORIES

Walker Adopted 8.23.2020

Sweet and goofy Walker has found his forever home. We are so happy for him and his new family.

Bud Adopted 8.22.2020

Bud prefers to be the only pup is in home. We are thrilled he has found the perfect home and wish him a lifetime of happiness!

Isa Adopted 8.18.2020

Sweet and playful Isa has a new leash on life. She has found her forever home and is so happy to spend it with her new Mommy!

King Adopted 8.17.2020

Our sweet boy King, who’s had a hard past, now has a bright future ahead of him! He will get to be the King of his castle in his new forever home!

Dillinger Adopted 8.13.2020

Dillinger is a three old pup who was found as a stray. We are thrilled that he has found the perfect home for his second chance on life!

Shark Adopted 8.12.2020

Shark has found his new family! His new owner came in with a volunteer group through MacDill Air Force Base and she fell in love with him. She came back a few days later when she was off worked and was hopeful that Shark was still here, and he was! Shark is in love with his new two-legged sibling as well! They could not be happier.

Butterfly Adopted 8.7.2020

Butterfly has her new home, complete with a four-legged brother named Jojo! They had a great time playing around in our play yard!

Vinny Adopted 7.30.2020

Sweet Vinny, who was originally found emaciated and weak, has met his forever family!

Lady Adopted 7.26.2020

Three year old lady has found her perfect home! This sweet pup can be overwhelmed by other dogs so we are glad she has found a quiet home for her forever home!

Ryder Adopted 7.25.2020

Sweet Ryder was so excited to go home that we jumped right into his mom’s car with his new sibling! We are so excited for him!

Chance Adopted 7.17.2020

Adorable Chance has gotten his second chance on life and  who also got adopted yesterday! He was adopted by pro baseball player Shawn Morimundo and his sister, Jessica! Big day for Dolly Dream Dogs!

Maya Adopted 7.17.2020

Sweet Maya was adopted by Julio who did a meet and greet with his dog, Rocco. Right from the time they met, they wanted to play and be besties! They played in the pool together. Maya jumped in first and was doing some pretty skilled doggie paddling and Rocco followed, which his owner says was a first for him! They were excited to be together and we are so happy for Maya and her new family!

 

Empress Emma Harding 6.19.2020

Empress Emma Harding came to the shelter as a stray but she has a lot of personality. She is a HIGH energy pup and we are thrilled she has found her forever home!

Precious Adopted 5.27.2020

Sweet Precious gets to be Queen of the Castle (she’d have it no other way!). We are ecstatic for her!!!

Odin Adopted 5.26.2020

Odin is a super sweet guy and we are thrilled he has found his forever home.

Charlie Adopted 5.24.2020

Charlie is a little shy at first but once he warm ups to you, you will see just how amazing he can be. We are thrilled that his new family will give him the life he deserves.

Cooper Adopted 5.11.2020

Cooper has a fun and silly personality but can be nervous at first. We are thrilled he has found a big family to spend his life with.

Byron Adopted 5.9.2020

Byron loves people and gets along great with other dogs. We are so happy he has been adopted into his new home with a sibling!

Drew Adopted 4.25.2020

Drew is an active pup who loves walks! He will definitely benefit from training so it’s great that he and his new owners receive this because of Dolly’s Dream!

Laila Adopted 4.7.2020

Laila was adopted by a wonderful family. They saw her on our YouTube channel and they brought their daughter in to see how she would do with her and it went great! This little chunk found her forever home.

Tyler Adopted 3.29.2020

Our super loving dog Tyler has found his forever home. We are excited for him to enjoy life with his new family!

Queen Adopted 3.27.2020

Sweet Queen has found her forever home! We are thrilled for this diva to be the Queen of her castle!

King Adopted 3.26.2020

King was adopted by an amazing family who had lost their dog but weren’t ready to adopt another. The adopter had been watching our page for awhile looking for the perfect fit and they instantly fell in love with King on our website and knew they needed to see him. As soon as they saw him, they knew it was meant to be!

Raleigh Adopted 3.18.2020

Sweet Raleigh has found her forever home! Complete with a 2-legged sibling!

Bob Adopted 3.2.2020

Bob, now known as Leon, was adopted into a wonderful home! We are so happy for him!

Sarge Adopted 2.22.2020

Sweet Sarge has been returned to us several times. We are excited that he has found his forever home as a Dolly’s Dream dog!

Rocco Adopted 2.14.2020

Rocco was adopted as a Dolly’s Dream Dog in September of 2019. He was returned recently and we are thrilled he has found his forever home on Valentine’s Day….complete with a four-legged sibling!

Princess Adopted 1.22.20

Princess is a 2 year old pup that was abandoned. She is an extremely high energy dog and we are thrilled she has found her new home!

Kelli Adopted 1.2.20

Kelli is a 1 year old girl who was brought into our care as a stray. She is extremely sweet and affectionate. She is very playful as well. We are thrilled that she will be starting 2020 in her new home!

Venus Adopted 12.23.19

Sweet Venus was adopted right before the holidays. We are delighted she has a home for the holidays!

Jacob Adopted 12.15.19

Jacob is a one year old who was found as a stray. He is an energetic pup who is very strong. He loves people! We are thrilled he found the perfect family.

Rafael Adopted 12.10.19

Rafael is a 7 year old who was found as a stray. This handsome stud has found his forever home!

Charlie Adopted 11.23.19

This wonderful couple came in to adopt Charlie! They saw he was returned for being too active and thought that he would be the perfect fit for their other puppy they adopted from HSTB a couple of months ago. They are so excited to add another four paws to their family.

Koda Adopted 11.15.19

Koda is a 1 year old pup with LOTS of energy! He was adopted as a Dolly’s Dream dog but was returned to us. Once a Dolly’s Dream pup, always a Dolly’s Dream pup! We are glad he has found his new home.

Lovie Adopted 11.12.19

Sweet Lovie went home! Her new family was so excited to get her home and snuggle up with her. They love the idea of the Dolly’s Dream program!

Kyla Adopted 11.4.19

Kyla is a 2 year old pup! Her  family returned her because they didn’t have enough time to monitor her. She is an active friendly girl who loves children. We are thrilled she has found a family who will give her all the time in the world!

Priscilla Adopted 10.20.19

Sweet Priscilla is about 4 years old. After a “test-drive” she was officially adopted. We are so thrilled she has found her forever home.

Ruby Adopted 10.9.19

Sweet Ruby went home! Formerly Melissa, she was adopted through Dolly’s Dream but was returned. Once a Dolly’s Dog, always a Dolly’s dog! We’re happy that Ruby has been given another chance!

Duke Adopted 10.5.19

Dolly’s Dream Dog Duke went home! His new mom brought her super cute pup in to meet him and it was an instant hit! Duke and his new sister are the best of friends already and can’t wait to go on some exciting new adventures together

Cuddles Adopted 9.20.19

Cuddles is a 4 year old pup who is the perfect ambassador for his breed. He is sweet with everyone and dogs. He’s named Cuddles for a reason and we are so happy her has his forever family!

Murry Adopted 8.28.19

Murry was adopted! We are so thrilled for this energetic pup!

Elvis Adopted 9.6.19

Elvis is a 10 month old pup that came to us as a stray. He’s very sweet and shy. He has found his forever home!

Millie Adopted 8.17.19

Our sweet girl Millie has found a loving companion!

Mango Adopted 8.16.19

Mango who was brought to us by Tampa Fire Rescue. We are thrilled that she has found her forever home!

Sasha Adopted 8.5.19

Six year old Sasha found the perfect home. She will have people siblings that are full of energy and are ready to take her for runs and spend time training her!

 

Adam Adopted 7.31.19

Our sweet boy Adam (now Bo Duke) has finally found his forever home. We are so excited because he will be roommates with an HSTB alumni, Panda!

 

Henry Adopted 7.12.19

Henry was adopted! One of our staff members at our Animal Hospital fell instantly in love and the rest is history!

Diego Adopted 7.9.19

Diego was adopted! He is going home to a family with a fenced in yard and kids to play with and help him burn all his energy. His adopter came in just to look and ended up falling in love with this handsome boy.

Ruger Adopted 7.6.19

Ruger went home with an amazing family who has experience with big dogs and who recently lost their dog. They came in just to look around and when they saw Ruger walking past them, they made eye contact and the rest was history. Ruger was meant for this family!

King Adopted 5.12.19

King is 3 years old. He’s very sweet and walks beautifully on the leash. He’s a calm player with other dogs who prefers dogs that aren’t overly active and in your face. He knows sit and loves butt scratches! Kaylee and her boyfriend came in looking to adopt a pitty and fell in love with King! His new name is now King Enzo.

Hamlet Adopted 5.12.19

Hamlet is a 3 year old who came into our care after he was found as a stray. He is very sweet.  Paul and his family came by the shelter to look around and saw Hamlet’s sweet face. On our visit there was an instant connection between Hamlet and their son. They decided that they had to make him a part of their family!

Princess Adopted 5.9.19

Princess is a 3 year old love bug. She is very active and gets along great with other dogs. She was found abandoned at our administrative offices. We are so happy she has found her forever home.

Fredo Adopted 5.4.19

Fredo is an 1 year old athlete! He is learning basic obedience and is good with other very active dogs. We are thrilled he found his forever home

Carolina 4.27.19

Carolina is a 6 year old sweetheart who is very loving and gets along with other dog. She is very strong on the leash and extremely active.

Flo Rida Adopted 4.26.19

Flo Rida is a one year old pup. He is very sweet and has LOTS of energy. We are so happy he has found his forever home.

Trigger Adopted 3.23.19

Trigger is very smart and a total love bug! We are so glad that he has found his forever home!

Holly Adopted 3.16.19

Our Dolly’s Dream Dog, Holly, went home! Her new family came in to finalize her adoption today. She is doing well with her feline sibling. Her new parents cannot wait to start her dog training.

Devon Adopted 2.26.19

Our Dolly’s Dream Pup Devon goes home! This awesome couple saw Devon and fell in love with him, but wanted to make sure that where they live they were okay to have pitbulls as well as just get the place prepped for the pup.  Already loving their new baby, Devon (now named Hades) is on his way on this rainy Tuesday to his new home where mom and dad can snuggle him!!

Sugar Adopted 2.23.19

Our Sweet 2 year old Sugar went to a wonderful home with a mom and daughter who came in looking for a new furry family member to add to the family. After meeting with a few dogs and not really feeling a good match, our staff asked if they would be interested in meeting with Sugar, and when they did, they fell in love with her! She loved snuggling up with the little girl. The family is overwhelmed with happiness and Sugar was so excited to go home!

Ghost Adopted 1.12.19

Ghost is a 2 year old doggy who was surrendered to us with his owner could no longer care for him. His new family adopted him along with a sister from our shelter too!

Acer Adopted 1.2.19

Acer is an 8 year old pup who was transferred into our shelter from Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center. He now has a new family with 2 other dogs and will get to have lots of play time!

Nola Adopted 12.21.18

Nola is a 2 year old sweetheart who was found as a stray. Her new mom, Erika, came in looking for her first doggy to adopt while living on her own. She instantly fell in love with Nola. Erika used to volunteer with HSTB in high school and knew this would be the perfect place to find her new best friend!

 

Spirit Adopted 12.12.18

Spirit, a four year old pup found her forever home! She will be kept calm while going through her heartworm treatment but then will get to enjoy the active lifestyle with her new dad.

Brody Adopted 11.26.18

Brody found his perfect home! It was a match made in heaven and Brody was so excited to play with his new dad during his visit.

Rover Adopted 11.24.18

Rover has found his forever home! This wonderful lady came in looking to adopt. She met with Rover and couldn’t stop thinking about him. She came back and adopted him the next day!

Albert Adopted 11.23.18

Albert found his forever home! A wonderful family came in looking for the perfect companion. Albert will have lots of room to play in his new home.

Harmony Adopted 10.15.18

Harmony found her new family and is as happy as can be! Her family told us they cannot wait until Christmas because she will be getting her very own Christmas sweater! How adorable! We are very happy to know that Harmony will be so loved… because she deserves it!

Lucius Adopted 9.18.18

Lucius has found his forever home! This awesome couple came to “look” around our shelter. They saw Lucius’ sweet eyes looking at them through the kennel and they knew they had to meet him. He greeted them with his wet nose and a bunch of kisses! It was meant to be! Lucius is an energetic, 2 year old pup with lots of love to give!

Storm Adopted 9.16.18

Yay for Storm! This sweet girl is 1 year old and came to us as a stray. Her new family came to our shelter looking for the perfect dog. When they saw Storm, they instantly fell in love with her! They KNEW she had to be theirs. We are so thrilled to say she has found her perfect forever home!

Sunshine Adopted 9.5.18

Sweet Sunshine is finally with her forever family! This 3 year old girl came to us as a stray. She is a shy and playful pup who gets along with other dogs who are confident and calm. This mom and two daughters came to our shelter looking for the perfect dog. Once they saw Sunshine, they knew it was meant to be! We are so thrilled that Sunshine has found her home!!!

Rex Adopted 9.1.18

Handsome Rex was finally adopted! He came into our care as a stray. Rex is an active pup that would do well in with a family that embraces his energetic lifestyle. His new owner came looking for a dog of his own and decided on sweet Rex. He is an only dog since he can be picky about his friends. We are happy to see this boy in his very own home!

Mushu Adopted 8.20.18

Sweet Mushu is approximately 2 years old and came into our care as a stray. He is an energetic pup and would do well in an active home with an active lifestyle. He has finally found his best friend and is going to have a home of his very own. We couldn’t have found a better match for these two!!!

Champ Adopted 8.18.18

Champ is approximately 1 year old and came into our care as a stray. He is full of energy and would do well in an active home with an active lifestyle. His new owners came to our “Clear the Shelters” event and when they saw Champ, they knew they had to adopt him. They fell in love instantly and knew he was the perfect addition to their family.

Tommy Adopted 7.16.18

Tommy is approximately 3 years old and came into our care as a stray. He is an energetic pup that would do well in an active home with an active lifestyle. His new owners were so excited to meet him. They fell in love within a few minutes of visiting with him and knew he was the perfect addition to their family.

Kevin Adopted 7.7.18

 Kevin is 3 years old and originally came into our care as a stray back in December 2017! This heartworm positive pup had LOTS of energy and we knew he deserved the most perfect home. While he went on numerous adoption test drives, his perfect family wasn’t there yet. We are so thrilled to say he has found the best forever home and we wish them nothing but happiness! Not only does he have 3 2-legged siblings, he also has 2 4-legged siblings who all love him very much.

 

 

 

Dove Adopted 6.23.18

Dove is a 3 year old girl full of love and energy! She came in as a stray and was very pregnant and with a face wound but was soon cleared to be adopted. As a dog that would do best in a home with no cats or small animals, we knew she needed to find the perfect home. Thanks to Dolly’s Dream, Dove was able to find it!

 

 

 

Mac Adopted 6.4.18

 Mac is a 3 year old adventurous boy. He came to us originally when his owner no longer had the time to care for him. He is an energetic pup and we are so thrilled that he has found a loving home (complete with a four-legged HSTB alumni sibling) thanks to Dolly’s Dream.

 

 

 

Mocha Adopted 6.3.18

Sweet Mocha is 7 years old and had been in our care since January after she was found as a stray. She prefers to be the Queen of the Castle and would do best as the only pet. This high energy pup quickly became a staff favorite. We are so thrilled that Mocha has found her forever home!!!

 

 

Zuka Adopted 3.18.18

Zuka was transferred from Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center after being there for over 5 months! We are so thrilled to say she has found her forever home. Her new owner knew that Zuka would be the perfect match for him!

 

 

Mojito Adopted 3.15.18

Bye-bye Mojito!!! This sweet boy was with us for over a month at Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center for over 100 days prior to that. He has finally found his best friend and is going to have a home of his very own. We couldn’t have found a better match for these two!!!

 

 

Casper Adopted 2.2.18

Casper is a very handsome, gentle-giant. He was sometimes timid in the shelter and we knew he needed to find his forever home to truly thrive. He now has that home and with 3 feline sisters who he is getting along great with! Congrats to Casper!

 

 

 

Zeus Adopted 1.12.18

Zeus is very handsome, strong and loves to cuddle and give kisses. He is extremely energetic and love to play so he would require a good amount of exercise every day. A couple came in looking for an energetic dog to keep up with their active lifestyle. Both had previous experience with the American Staffordshire Breed and when they saw Zeus, they were instantly bonded. We are thrilled that Zeus will have the active lifestyle he deserves.

 

 

 

Luke Adopted 1.7.18

One of HSTB’s longest residents, Luke, was adopted a wonderful gentleman. Luke came to us as a transfer and was found to be heartworm positive when he arrived. This wonderful adopter and his came in today and instantly fell in love with Luke. They cannot wait to spoil him.

 

 

 

Brownie Adopted 11.18.17

Brownie is a sweet girl with lots of energy. She is a one year old pup who was found as a stray. She will now have four-legged and two-legged siblings and we are thrilled that she will receive the love and attention she deserves!

 

 

 

Abigail Adopted 11.7.17

Abigail came into our shelter as a stray. Mark and his family were looking for a doggy friend that would fit in with the family.  They loved Abigail because she was exactly what they were looking for. She was very happy on the visit and loved their 3 little girls petting and playing with her. We are so happy to see Abigail go to the perfect forever home with lots of loving coming her way!

 

 

 

Cora Adopted 11.6.17

Cora came into our shelter as a stray. A wonderful young woman came in and instantly fell in love with Cora (Now Daisy). Daisy will even have a four-legged brother named Taco!

 

RICO Adopted 11.5.17

Rico is a one year old pup that was originally transferred to our shelter after Hurricane Irma. His previous shelter sustained severe damage.  Rico was adopted for a brief time and was returned to our shelter for being too active. A wonderful young couple wanted to find the perfect pup and they immediately fell in love with Rico. We are ecstatic he has found his forever home.

NINA Adopted 11.2.17

Nina was found as a stray during Hurricane Irma. She is 8 years old and is a sweet pup who LOVES to cuddle. She has a possible broken jaw from the past that healed crooked. We are thrilled that she has found a loving family! They are so excited to have Nina in their lives.

HANK Adopted 11.2.17

Hank was found as a stray  He is 2 years old and is a gorgeous, active pup! This 70 pound boy has a lot of loving to give. He will now have four doggy siblings and his new name is Duke!

COLT Adopted 10.29.17

Colt was a 3 year old pup who was transferred to HSTB after Hurricane Irma when his previous shelter incurred substantial damage. Since Colt is an active boy, we wanted to be sure he found the right home. A wonderful young couple came in to the shelter and immediately fell in love with Colt. He will get to go everywhere with them! We are so happy for Colt.

KAYLA Adopted 9.22.17

Kayla is 6 years old and was surrendered into our shelter for being too active. We are thrilled that she has found her forever home in which she can be Queen of the Castle! She now has humans siblings to give her lots of hugs, kisses, and loving!

BRUTUS Adopted 8.31.17

Brutus came into our shelter as a stray. While we did not know a lot about his history, we do know that he knew some basic commands and is a very sweet pup. He is the perfect ambassador for his breed and shows just what wonderful dogs they are. He went home with an HSTB alumni 4 legged brother as well as a 2 legged sister. The family saw Brutus on our website and waited for him before we were even open. We know he will be well loved in his new home.

LENNY Adopted 8.19.17

Lenny came into our shelter when he was found as a stray. Unfortunately, we see a lot of stray dogs come in and a large majority of them are American Staffordshire mixes, like Lenny.  Since his breed comes with a false negative connotation, it can be harder to adopt Lenny and his friends. On top of all this, Lenny was also heartworm positive. We are so thrilled to share that Lenny went home with a new mom and a 2-legged brother. Lenny was so happy to find is forever home.

JASPER Adopted 7.15.17

Jasper came to us originally from Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center on April 19th. He was adopted a month later but was returned a few days after for being too active. The “BOSS CROSS” Cross Country team from Steinbrenner High School would come and take Jasper on runs before we would open in the morning.  This would help Jasper cope with life in the shelter as well. We are thrilled to say that of the alums from the Cross Country team, chose to give Jasper his forever home. We could not be any more excited to know that Jasper will live in an active home where he has already been shown so much love.

Disaster Preparedness

Hurricanes, flooding, booming thunderstorms … summer brings Florida opportunities for disaster and we want to make sure you have the resources necessary to be prepared. Storms are one of the leading causes of pets becoming lost and hurricane season ushers in the possibility of evacuation. You don’t need to leave your pet behind! We’ve compiled the following resources to help you prepare for the safety of EVERY member of your family.

A detailed, downloadable emergency preparedness document covering the needs of dogs, cats, horses, swine, cattle, birds, reptiles, and rabbits during a disaster. Checklists and contact log included.

Updated during disasters to show shelters accepting pets. It is very important that your pets are up-to-date on their shots as shelters will not allow pets to enter without proof of current vaccinations.

Print and affix to a gallon-size plastic bag where you can store the listed items.