Dear Fellow Dog Enthusiasts: A quote from novelist George Eliot pretty much sums up the way I feel about our four-legged friends. “Animals are such agreeable friends – they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.”

Dogs don’t care about our past, how we dress or how large our bank account is. Simply put, all they care about is us. Their love is unconditional; they are by our sides through good times and bad.

Adopting a shelter dog is particularly rewarding because when you adopt you save a life. You give an otherwise unwanted animal a second chance in a deserving home. Many dogs end up in shelters because of circumstances beyond their control. Although they may be second-hand, they are not second-rate. They make great pets and seem to know they’ve been given a gift.

If you and your family are thinking about a pet, please visit any of these shelters. You’ll be glad you did!

Pinellas County Animal Services: 12450 Ulmerton Road, Largo 33774; Phone: 582-2600
SPCA of Tampa Bay: 9099-130th Avenue, Largo 33773; Phone: 586-3591
Pet Pal Animal Shelter: 405-22nd Street S., St. Petersburg 33712, Phone: 328-7738
Friends of Strays: 2911 47th Avenue, N., St. Petersburg, 33714, Phone: 522-6566