My Petz Local - Florida

For City specific information go to our sister-site: www.bocapetz.com,  www.jacksonvillepetz.com or www.tampapetz.com 

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New vacation destination for pets is now accepting reservations for late August
Lake Buena Vista, FL – June 24, 2010

Pet lovers visiting Walt Disney World Resort can now plan to board the family pet in fun, luxurious new accommodations. Reservations are being accepted for pet boarding stays beginning August 27, 2010 for the new Best Friends Pet Care Resort.

The one-of-a-kind resort comprises more than 50,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, including 17,000 square feet of air-conditioned indoor space, 10,000 square feet of covered outdoor runs and play areas, and an expansive private dog park exclusively for the use of pet resort clients and their dogs.

The facility will accommodate up to 270 dogs and 30 cats for both daytime and overnight boarding. A wide selection of suite choices for dogs includes air-conditioned indoor rooms, 48-square-foot indoor-outdoor suites, and four expansive VIP (very important pet) suites with television, raised bedding and private outdoor yards.

Feline guests will spend their visit in the separate “Kitty City” pavilion -- away from the dogs -- in two and four-room condos. All suites and condos are designed to provide comfort and privacy and will be cleaned daily with hospital-grade disinfectants.

“Best Friends has long been the industry leader for boarding, and this will be our crown jewel. We’ve taken the ‘best of breed’ in every category to create the perfect environment for pets,” said Dennis Dolan, President and CEO of Best Friends Pet Care. “Our goal is to ensure that pets staying with us have a fun, action-packed vacation – just like their families vacationing at Walt Disney World.”

The resort’s exclusive dog park features a fenced walking trail bordering the natural wetlands around the park. Inside the trail, guests can choose from a variety of different play areas, including a 3,300 square-foot area covered in artificial turf, a 4,500 square-foot area with shade trees, and a 1,300 square-foot “canines only” water park. There are several large areas for owners to sit, relax and watch their dogs play. The entire park is secured from outsiders and is illuminated for use after dark.

Other features of the resort include: a grooming salon, which will provide go-home-fresh baths and haircuts for pets; two 1,100 square-foot “camp rooms” for play group and doggy day camp, each opening onto an outdoor play-yard; and a special facility for the boarding of “pocket pets,” such as hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits and ferrets.

Pet parents can choose from a wide range of a la carte activities for pet guests from one-on-one playtimes and social playgroup with other doggy guests, to cuddle time and bedtime stories with staff. Additional amenities and upgrades include Ice Cream Treats, Bottled Water and Premium/Orthopedic Bedding. Feline guests can also enjoy private playtimes, activity toys in their suites, and treats such as Cookies and Milk or Tuna on a Ritz.

The pet resort is located across from the Port Orleans Resort at 2510 Bonnet Creek Parkway in Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830. Pricing and other details are available at wdw.bestfriendspetcare.com or by calling 877-4-WDW-PETS.

About Best Friend Pet Care
Best Friends Pet Care Inc. (www.bestfriendspetcare.com) is a long-time leader in the U.S. pet hospitality industry, providing high-quality boarding for dogs and cats as well as day care, grooming, training and related services. Founded in 1991, the Company redefined pet boarding in 1996 with the opening of its first full-service pet resort in Norwalk, Conn. Since that time, Best Friends has expanded to more than 40 pet care centers in 18 states, always innovating and providing new offerings based upon the needs of pets and feedback from clients. The company currently operates the five boarding kennels at Walt Disney World Resort, which will be phased out with the opening of the new pet resort.

Kristie Corson is seen here with one of her own “Big Buns:” Winston,
a Flemish Giant that can weigh in at as much as 28lbs!

Domestic house rabbits are just what they sound to be: Rabbits that are house pets. Unfortunately the number of people that decide to purchase or take in one of these wonderful little creatures often do not educate themselves on the upkeep, care and expectations of owning a house rabbit. This is where groups such as Kristie’s become involved. Her group has been involved with picking them up from shelters, finding/trapping them from someone who has dumped them into the wild to care for themselves which could be one to twenty or MORE!

Little Miracles, not only seeks to improve the lives of domestic rabbits through adoption efforts but they seek and coordinate local volunteer-driven education.

The do this by providing resources to educate the public on the benefits of rabbits as companion animals, rabbit behavior, and rabbit care. By attending adoption events, and pet expos, they are able to provide education to the public and create a larger network for finding foster and adoptive homes.

To help with costs they collectively fund raise locally, as well as online in order to provide for the day-to-day costs, spay/neuter fees, medical costs and other needs of the rescue. They’ve recently started utilizing some of their “buns” for photograph shoots – recently for Easter and a “Beach Bun” shoot for a future calendar!

Through the rescue of rabbits from individuals looking to surrender, strays, and shelter rabbits needing placement, Little Miracles has placed and saved close to 1,000 bunnies! This is huge accomplishment when you consider the foster the rabbits, provide medical care if needed, spay and neuter and only then do they adopt them according to their group’s standards.

       

The group offers this information about House Rabbits:

If there's one thing they’ve learned in years of rescuing rabbits, it's this: most people looking to “get rid of” a rabbit are doing so because of what they consider to be behavior problems.

If your rabbit is not spayed or neutered, it is completely normal for it to bite, spray urine, hump everything that moves, chew up your carpet and furniture, growl, grunt, refuse to litter train, lunge at you, smell bad, and more. They ask that you reconsider surrendering and try the spay or neuter method first for it may very well solve the problem

Whatever you do, don't be tempted to "let go" of your bunny into the wild - this is a death sentence! Domestic rabbits have no means to defend themselves, and no ability to hide. They will be killed, most likely within 24-48 hours of release.

So if this is an emergency, please call your local humane society to take your rabbit then search online under “rabbit rescue or house rabbit” for a group near you.

If you have found a stray rabbit, please put it in your bathtub with a towel as a temporary solution. Give the bunny a bowl of water and if you can, plain rabbit pellets (sold at most pet stores). We encourage you not to pick up the rabbit after placing him/her in the bathtub to avoid possible injury. Contact Little Miracles as soon as possible and they will direct you from there.

If you’d like to help this wonderful, selfless group you can do so many ways:

Go Shopping!
The sites you already order from - Amazon, Home Depot, Best Buy, Office Depot, etc. - will give LMRR a percentage if you shop from their GiveBackAmerica.org page.

Help with their Veterinarian Debt
One of their greatest limitations is the ability to spay and neuter the many bunnies that come to the rescue. They have secured a very low cost veterinarian that is willing to perform this task, however there is still a cost. As low as $5 from each of their visitors would mean so much.

They could also use things such as:
* Home Depot gift cards
* Cordless drill
* Shop Vac
* Insulation for our attic
* Tractor Supply gift cards
* Hay, food, and litter
* Toys and wicker baskets
* Towels
* Industrial quality mop and bucket (on wheels with ringer)


Short on $$? Then Volunteer Your Time!

The organization could use:

Foster Homes: If you live in the Southwest Florida area, preferably between Hillsboro County and Lee Counties, consider becoming a foster home. They provide cages, food and start up supplies, while you get the joy of helping, all while only housing a few bunnies. They especially need homes for "special needs" rabbits, those that may be sick, injured, or otherwise unadoptable.

Call Takers: People to volunteer to check their phone messages one or two days per week, every week on their designated day(s). Call takers need to respond to every phone call by directing the matter to the responsible person via email. The group gets calls about surrendering rabbits, adoptions, questions, and requests for emergency help. Basic training is provided.

Kennel Help: Volunteers in the Port Charlotte / North Port area to help clean cages and feed and water the rabbits on a regular basis, weekly or monthly.

Drivers: People to pick up and transport rabbits to and from shelters, homes, veterinarian appointments, etc. If you live anywhere in South or Central Florida and are willing to drive to their facility when the need arises, please consider being a driver.

Public Relations, Marketing, Fundraising and Newsletter: attend events and help promote the rescue, do online advertising, research, search for grants, contribute to online message boards, organize/plan events, fundraising ideas, or help write/create/distribute their quarterly newsletter. There are LOTS of ways to get involved that don’t involve $, just your time and skills.

Important Links
* House Rabbit Society www.rabbit.org
* Rabbit Care Info at www.QRabbit.com
* YahooGroups Discussion Forum http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/HouseRabbitDiscussion/
* BunSpace Page http://www.bunspace.com/view_bunny?bunid=3615
* MySpace Page http://www.myspace.com/littlemiraclesrr

To contact:
littlemiraclesrr@aol.com
www.littlemiraclesrr.org
North Port, FL
(941) 240-6412