Community Corner
Earth Day Goes To The Dogs In Tampa
BluePearl is inviting folks and their four-legged friends out for an Earth Day celebration that features a peanut butter licking contest.
TAMPA, FL — As folks across the globe celebrate Earth Day on Saturday, BluePearl Veterinary Partners is making sure four-legged critters can get in on the act. To that end, the Tampa veterinary hospital is pulling out the stops for a celebration that features such canine-appropriate fun as a peanut butter licking contest and pooper scooper races.
The event, dubbed “Paws Around the Earth,” takes place at BluePearl’s 3000 Busch Lakes Blvd. hospital. Although free to attend, folks may want to bring along some cash for the food trucks that will be in attendance and to help raise money for Frankie’s Friends, a nonprofit dedicated to helping sick pets.
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The event begins at 10 a.m. and runs through 1 p.m. April 22 with the following schedule of activities planned out for pet owners and their critters:
- Peanut butter licking contest – 10:30 a.m.
- Musical dog beds – 11:15 a.m.
- Pooper scooper races – 11:45 a.m.
- Dogs bobbing for toys – noon
- Costume contest – Attendees are asked to bring their pets “dress in their best Earth Day-themed costumes.”
Food trucks lined up for the event include Mr. C’s Grilled Cheese and Disco Donuts. A bloodmobile for humans “who want to show solidarity for the dogs and cats who donate blood to BluePearl’s blood bank” will also be on hand, the hospital reported in an announcement.
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BluePearl launched a blood bank program for canine and feline donors about nine years ago. Blood from the bank is used to treat pets at BluePearl locations and other veterinary practices and emergency hospitals across the state and beyond.
BluePearl blood bank representatives will be on hand Saturday to share information about the program and what's involved in enrolling a pet to become a donor.
“As veterinary medicine continues to become more advanced, the need for blood just keeps growing,” said Dr. DeeAnn Dugger, a senior BluePearl clinician and director of the blood bank program. “We’re always hoping to find suitable donors.”
To find out more about BluePearl, visit its website.
Patch file photo by Sherri Lonon
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