Animals

Local dogs played, swam and strutted their stuff at the Ghoul and Drool Howl-O-Ween event in Gainesville on Saturday, October 24. The city's parks, recreation and cultural affairs department hosted the party for the pooches and their owners at the H. Spurgeon Cherry “Westside” Swimming Pool from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Though bear hunting is once again legal in Florida, not all residents support the decision. Across the state, people gathered to protest the hunt's opening day.

The Alachua County Humane Society recently started offering low-cost checkups and vaccines for pets. Wellness exams at the new clinic cost between $20 and $30, and vaccine tests are free, making it easier for residents to care for their pets.

The first annual Halloweener Derby Day was held Kanapaha Veterans Memorial Park last weekend to help raise money for the Climb for Cancer Foundation. The event featured a dachshund race and costume contest.

Gainesville Pet and Rescue has reduced the price of black cats and black dogs up for adoption to debunk any superstitions or myths about the animals.

A non-profit organization rescues abandoned dogs from the Middle East and finds them homes in the United States. Several of these dogs have found homes in Gainesville.

The Lubee Bat Conservancy holds an annual bat festival to educate people about the species. This year, the turnout is expected to be larger than ever with more land available, more vendors and more attractions.

Olivia is a volunteer at UF Health Shands Hospital. She is quite familiar with the protocol; she checks in at the front desk at the beginning of her 2-hour shift, dons her volunteer nametag, listens closely to instructions and is always maintained on a leash. Olivia, a 4-year-old pit bull, …

Local Girl Scout Evanna Alvarez launched a GoFundMe campaign and donation drive to bring peanut butter to the Alachua County Humane Society. The Humane Society goes through 15 jars of peanut butter a week feeding dogs.

In honor of Elephant Appreciation Day on Sept. 22, Patricia Zerbini hosted an event on Saturday and Sunday at Two Tails Ranch. The ranch features six elephants and several other exotic animals that are under Zerbini's care. The event raised over $2,000 for the ranch.