Bradenton Dog

Mary Lou Davidson

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Breed Profile: Beagle

Beagle Profile by Lauren R. Tharp

The Beagle: Number Five with the AKC, but Number One in Our Hearts!

What do Shiloh, Snoopy, and Underdog all have in common?  They’re all Beagles!  It would be insulting to claim that a Beagle “ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog” but they are in the Hound Family.  The Beagle has long been considered a “favorite” dog (since the 1500s!) and currently reigns as the 5th most popular dog in the United States according to AKC registration records.


Energetic and friendly, Beagles may be short on height, but tall on personality!  The Beagle was officially recognized by the AKC in 1885.

Physical Traits

Size & Weight: Beagles are a smaller breed and are generally only 15 inches tall at the shoulders.  As for weight, twenty pounds is about the “average” for Beagles; however, Beagles have a tendency to want to pack on the pounds in their later years and can sometimes end up being much larger.

Coat & Color: Beagles have short hair and can be found in any of the typical Hound colors.  The most popular/recognizable color for a Beagles coat is the brown-black-white tri-color coat.

Other: Beagles are similar in appearance to a Foxhound (but much stouter!).

Life Expectancy: 12-15 years

Temperament: Beagles are naturally curious and tend to follow their noses—which makes sense since, outside of the Bloodhound, the Beagle has one of the most highly developed senses of smell of any of the recognized dog breeds!

Known for being affectionate and good-natured, the Beagle is often thought of as the perfect “family dog.”  Beagles are friendly, energetic, and enjoy having company (whether it’s from humans or other dogs).

Wags:

  • Great with children and other dogs.
  • Their short coat is easy to maintain and requires very little grooming.
  • Compact in size and adapts well to urban living.

Challenges:

  • Following their noses can sometimes get them in trouble.  Curiosity can often lead to destructive behavior if not given alternate stimulation.
  • Can be somewhat difficult to train.  Beagles can be easily distracted and have a tendency to wander off when bored.
  • Some Beagles become very dependent on having companionship and will whine/howl if left alone.

If you are looking for a beagle, we recommend contacting Tampa Bay Beagle Rescue.

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Breed Profile: Labrador Retriever

by Lauren R. Tharp

The Labrador Retriever is the most popular dog in the United States.  (According to AKC registration records).  Once the friend of the lonely fisherman in Newfoundland, the Labrador Retriever is now a friend to everyone, around the world!

Stephen Huneck Gallery

Physical Traits

Size & Weight: A muscular, compact-bodied dog, the Labrador Retriever generally weighs in anywhere from 50 to 80 pounds.

Coat & Color: The Labrador Retriever’s hair is straight, short, and very dense.  At first touch, their coats can feel hard and coarse; but they have a soft, near water-proof, undercoat.  Colors include black, yellow, and chocolate.

Other: They’re known for their “otter” tail!  Labrador Retriever’s love the water and their tail not only looks like an otter’s tail, it functions like one too—they use it to steer themselves when in the water.

Life Expectancy: 10-12 years

Temperament

First recognized by the AKC in 1917, the Labrador Retriever is outgoing and devoted and supremely useful!  Used as guide dogs for the blind, as search and rescue dogs, and as narcotics dogs for Law Enforcement, Labrador Retrievers are gentle, intelligent, non-aggressive, and eager to please.

Wags:

  • Fantastic with people and other animals.
  • Easy to train.
  • Easy to groom.

Challenges:

  • Does not make a good guard dog.  Much too friendly.  More likely to snuggle up to a stranger than attack them.
  • Not the best dog for very small children or the elderly.  Labrador Retrievers are extremely rambunctious and, with their muscular bodies, they can accidentally injure those of us with a weaker frame.
  • Requires lots of exercise!  And, when their exercise needs are not met, they may become destructive.

If you have a Lab in Sarasota, you’ll definitely want to add Brohard Paw Park – The Venice Dog Beach on your route map.  You and your dog will enjoy socializing and playing in the water in this gorgeous Sarasota County park.


Thinking of adding a Labrador Retriever to your family?  Please contact Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida for information on adoptable dogs.

Special Thanks to Dog Mountain for use of this featured image.

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Dog-Friendly House for Rent in Bradenton

Location! Location! Location!
This pet friendly house is located in West Bradenton. It is right off 43rd Ave West in between Manatee and Cortez Rd…great location and close to everything. The beach is about 6 miles away.

It is a 4 bedroom 2 bath 2200 sq foot house. It has a living room, family room, eat in kitchen, large screened in lanai, a separate workshop with electric, 1 car garage.
The house has just been painted and has brand new carpet. One of the bedrooms has a fireplace.

The rent is $1395 a month, we require 1 month security and first month’s rent and $250 pet deposit.   Ready for rental on September 12.

For more information contact call Debbie @ 941-704-2394

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Manatee Animal Services offers specials in September

Manatee County Animal Services offers ‘long overdue’ special for pet adoptions throughout September.

Throughout September Manatee County Animal Services will offer adoption specials on all dogs and cats that have been at the shelter 30 days or longer.

Dogs that have been at the shelter a month or more can be adopted for $30, a $50 savings off the regular adoption fee of $80. Cats can be adopted for $10, normally priced at $60.

“We have a large selection of dogs and cats,” said Animal Services Chief Kris Weiskopf. “Help us help the animals by adopting today. ”

This adoption special is another step in the County’s plan to become a no-kill community.

The special is available at both Animal Services locations: in Palmetto, 305 25th St. W. (open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and in Bradenton, 1002 B., Manatee Ave. W., (open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Preview available animals by visiting www.mymanatee.org/pets
For more information, call (941) 742-5933.

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Sunshine: Animal Services of Manatee

This 8 month old Husky-Shepard Mix, Sunshine is available an Animal Services of Manatee.
Shelter staff say that she is 8 months old.  She’s been at the shelter for about 10 days and is ready to find a loving, active home.  Sunshine will need training but has the wonderful attributes of a Husky and the smarts of a Shepard.

Her ID # is:  A044974  Call:941-742-5933 to bring a little Sunshine into your life!

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Manatee County is moving toward no-kill, can you help?

Animal advocates and the County are taking steps to move the area toward being a n0-kill community.  Far too many healthy dogs and cats meet their end too soon because their family experienced economic or health difficulties.

In many cases, a rescue group would be willing to step in take the pet, as a stepping stone on the path to being re-homed; but as yet a streamlined system of communications between Animal Services and the rescue community has not existed.

Now, a volunteer position of Foster Coordinator is being created to solve this problem.  This is not a new County program of fostering but rather a more efficient of way of getting the needful information to the right parties in a timely way.
Animal Services Board Member, Jean Peelen told us that the responsibilities of the volunteer coordinator will be to:
  • Keep two databases.  One is a continually updated list (with photos) of dogs and cats ready to move to a rescue group/foster home.  The other is a database of all rescue groups in (and out of the area) that use fosters.  When Animal Services has dogs or cats that can be pulled by rescue groups,  they inform the Coordinator who then finds the good fit with rescue groups.  The hope is that this will also relieve the groups from recreating the wheel by each contacting Animal Services to see what animals are available.
  • The Coordinator also will serve as the contact point for members of the public who want to volunteer to foster.  No vetting necessary.  The coordinator will refer them to the appropriate rescue group.
There are other functions the Coordinator could be involved with:
  • The Coordinator could assist with efforts to increase the number of foster homes through public meetings, personal appearances at civic groups, letters to editors, etc.
  • The Coordinator could assist with finding grant monies for things like food, training, medical care to assist foster homes.
There is no need for the Coordinator to be just one person.  Ideally two or three Coordinators will work together to manage the duties of the job or perhaps to divide up the work.

So often we hear that people want to help animals in need but aren’t sure where to start.  This would awesome way to lend your talent and expertise to this valiant initiative of saving the lives of cats and dogs. 
If you’d like to learn more please contact [email protected] or call