Animal Services to Host Good Dog Day

Hillsborough County Animal Services is hosting the Good Dog Day on Saturday, May 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., in Ybor City's Centennial Park, 9th Avenue and 18th Street. This pet-friendly event focuses on how vigilant ownership can reduce the number of dangerous dogs and attacks in neighborhoods.  
 
Good Dog Day kicks off National Dog-Bite Prevention Week (May 15- 21), sponsored in part each year by the United States Postal Service. Hillsborough County Animal Services and community partners will offer resources for essential elements of dog-bite prevention including:  socialization and training, responsible pet ownership and pet registration, spaying/neutering, and general pet health such as vaccinations.  

Representatives from two dog training companies, Bark Busters Home Dog Training and I Train Dogs N U, will be on hand to offer tips for breaking bad habits and assisting dog owners with obedience training. Dogs and their families can also take the "good dog" stage to enter informal contests for prizes. One special human will be awarded a Good Owner prize package for a night out in Ybor City.
 
In addition to Ask-the-Trainer, Good Dog Day attendees can use Ask-the-Veterinarian. Pet owners can update shots for dogs and cats on-site with the mobile National Pet Vax unit. Hillsborough County pet registration also may be purchased and/or renewed during the event. These tags are required by law, help reunite lost pets with owners, and let Good Samaritans know animals are safely immunized against rabies. Renewing the registration annually funds animal cruelty investigation and pet adoptions in Hillsborough County and even helps with disaster planning for pet-friendly evacuation shelters. 
 
Just in time for the start of hurricane season, Good Dog Day will offer more than 100 free micro-chips for pets on a first-come, first-served basis. Event attendees may have a tiny chip injected under their pet's skin at an estimated retail savings of $40 per pet. The micro-chip is not a tracking system, but rather, it contains a personal identification number that distinguishes a pet as a family member whose owners care about its safe return. Should pets go missing, shelters or veterinarians can scan an animal for a chip and acquire information to reunite families. Micro-chips are currently the most state-of-the-art pet identification available and an important element of preparedness in storm-prone Florida.   

Complimentary micro-chips at Good Dog Day are supplied courtesy of the C.A.R.E. Animal Shelter in Ruskin and made possible through a grant from the Sun City Center Community Foundation. Pets receiving  micro-chips must be current on vaccination and tags, and owners must bring a copy of their pet's rabies certificate to the event. For safety, dogs should be on leashes and cats in carriers at the event.
 
Good Dog Day takes place outdoors during Ybor City's Saturday Market, and will offer adoptable rescue pets in addition to music, food and shopping in a festive atmosphere.  Prospective pet adopters should bring photo ID, proof of address and renters' permission, if applicable.
 
For more information on Good Dog Day, contact Hillsborough County Animal Services at 813-744-5660 and online at www.hillsboroughcounty.org/animalservices or the Ybor Market at 813-241-2442 www.ybormarket.com .