b'realitysoundbites.The Cat Box: A Five-Star Hair BnBLast October, after Hurricane Milton, catsandvaccinated2,661communitywedeliveredsuppliesto cats. Their live-release rateFriendsofStraysAnimal is99%.But,themostShelter and took a tour of impressive statistic is theirtheirnewcatadoption workwith36in-statefacility with shelter CEO, transfershelterpartners,DaraWorthington.Art ensuringeveryanimalinand a sense of humor play their shelter is from withinabigrolethroughout Florida.WhilesomeThe Cat Box. The outside donor-fundedsheltersinofthebuilding,painted Florida continue to importbrightgreenwithacat- dogs from other states, andearsshapedawning,is sometimes other countries,hardtomiss.Theinterioraccou- FOShasbeenbuildingrelationshipstrementsandamenitiesarestate-of- with low resource Florida shelters sincethe-art,includingtheHairBnBs, 2021.Theystoppedimportingdogsprivateroomsforcatswhoprefera from out of state in 2023. little more peace and quiet. FriendsofStraysfeelsstronglyPhase 2 of the shelters expansion that we should not be bringing animalsMural artwork by Laura Thomas willbeTheMilkeyBoneDogHouse. into a state that is the 5th worst in theadorns a wall in The Cat Box. Oncethatbuildingiscomplete,the nation for lifesaving and into a countyoriginalbuildingwillbeconvertedto thatisthe4thworstintheFriends of Strays Animal Shelter (FOS) medical and intake. The campus expan- state,Worthingtontoldus.Weare2911 47th Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL sion has been made possible through a committedtohelpingsheltersinthe727.522.6566 (Adoptions: ext 102) generous gift from the Margie and Phil StateofFloridareduceeuthanasiaofwww.FriendsOfStrays.org Schwartz Trust. The Schwartz Family dogs and cats, and to raising the statesinfo@FriendsOfStrays.org AdoptionCampus willplayacritical lifesavingrate.WewillcontinuethisFacebook @FriendsOfStraysAnimalShelter role in advancing the shelters mission, work until no dog or cat in our stateInstagram @FriendsOfStrays and expanding its community resources. loses its life due to a lack of space, time,In2024,FOSadoptedout1,504 or resources. UNew Task Force Formed to Combat Animal CrueltyTaking the lead in combating animal cruelty in Florida, the University ofFloridaCollegeofVeterinaryMedicine,withsupportfromtheStateAttorneys offices of R.J. Larizza, Brian Kramer and Melissa Nelson, hasestablishedtheNorthFloridaAnimalCruelty TaskForce.ItincludesVolusia, Flagler, St. Johns, Putnam, Baker, Bradford, Union, Levy, Gilchrist,Alachua, Duval, Clay and Nassau counties.The goal of this task force is to enable law enforcement, animal serv-ices, veterinarians and the State Attorneys offices to collaborate effectivelyin investigating and prosecuting animal cruelty crimes throughout NorthFlorida, said Adam Stern, DVM, a professor of veterinary forensic pathol-ogy at the college. Dr. Stern, who coordinated the groups formation, alsoheads up the UF Veterinary Forensic Sciences Laboratory.There are multiple external factors that impede animal abuse investi-gations and the successful prosecution of those who commit animal cruel-ty. While the Task Force will concentrate efforts in the member counties,Dr. Stern told us, There are members like myself who belong to otherexistingtaskforces,suchas TheCentralFloridaAnimalCruelty TaskForce, the largest one in the state. If there are cases that cross county lines,there will definitely be communication.For more information:https://animalforensics.vetmed.ufl.edu/task-forces/ U The Veterinary Forensic Sciences Laboratory Team20 THE NEW BARKER www.TheNewBarker.com'