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Hernando Today

Fur Fest Is A Fun-Filled Day

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By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: November 10, 2008

SPRING HILL - Three greyhounds walked toward a makeshift racetrack.

One of them pointed his ears upward and wagged his tail.

Casey was rescued as a puppy and had never raced before. Even still, his sight-hound instincts kicked in Saturday during the first annual Fur Fest at the Lake House.

He was ready to gallop around the track chasing the furry tail.

Casey's owners - Bob and Jeanne Brown, of Weeki Wachee - were contemplating letting him run.

"I don't know," Jeanne Brown said. "He has a high prey drive."

All three of the docile greyhounds joined nearly 100 other dogs at Saturday's event, which offered local pet owners a chance to get their animals out of the house and scurry around with other dogs.

There were games, vendors and contests available to pets and their parents. The one that attracted Casey and his owners was a lure course. Pit bulls, Jack Russell terriers, border collies and others all took their turns running around the oval track.

Other activities included an Art for Pet's Sake booth, pet costume contest, pet and pet parent face painting, a dance contest and pet-singing contest.

There was live entertainment and an obedience school graduation. The dogs that have stayed the longest at the Humane Society of the Nature Coast shelter earned their "diplomas."

Mary Peter, a long-time instructor who recently moved her business to the local Humane Society building, got emotional as she thanked the volunteers for their partnership and efforts.

"The financial burden on the Humane Society is overwhelming," she said. "The staff and the volunteers truly care about the animals. It's not just a job to them."

Lacy Jaggi and her mother, Barbara Pettigrew, arrived at the FUR-fest without the former's pit bull. Instead, they donated pet food to the shelter's food bank.

They watched from afar as another pit bull, Lucky, sprinted around the track.
Jaggi told the story of how her dog arrived at her mother's door - pregnant and with two gunshot wounds. The sickly animal also had heart worms.

She worked her way back to health and has remained a tame and affectionate pet.

"They get such a bad rap," Pettigrew said of the pit bull breed. "It's really not fair."

Lucky's owner, Perry Flinn, of Spring Hill, joked about how his dog could have run faster had it been slimmer.

"I tend to give her too many snacks," he said.

Lucky broke away before Flinn could remove the leash. Her 13.661 seconds were better than most dogs.

Casey's time was even better. The first time he ran, he finished with 11.685 seconds. He followed that with a time of 10.939. The greyhound was a natural sprinter.

Joanne Schoch, the executive director of the local Humane Society, said the event was a way to show local pet owners that Hernando County could become a place where animals are occasionally allowed to visit public parks and places.

She is aware local residents look at other cities and counties with an envious eye.

"In other places, it's normal to take pets to parks and outdoor cafes," she said. "Our goal is to have more events for local people and their pets."

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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