Animals

A local Girl Scout donated agility equipment to Alachua County Animal Services. The equipment assists volunteers with training dogs in skills that make them more adoptable.

Chicken coop and hen sales are on the rise in Gaineville and Alachua County.

The Alachua Conservation Trust is expanding its kestrel nest box program to newly acquired lands in order to provide nesting habitats for threatened birds.

The Marion County Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance banning 24/7 unattended tethering of dogs.

Gainesville startup Truvitals has developed a wireless heart monitor for animals. The device will give more accurate readings and allow for veterinarians to monitor large animals without using anesthesia.

The heavy rainfall may lead to serious health problems for horses in a Marion County horse rescue organization. The Horse Protection Association of Florida has a drainage problem on their land that has lead to standing water that may harm the horses.

The Marion County commission will hear from a task force on tethering dogs, which will recommend prohibiting 24/7 and vacant lot tethering. The Marion County Human Society, heading up the effort, is targeting neglectful dog owners who leave their pets tied up outside for long periods of time.

Four dogs were euthanized and a Manatee County animal shelter was put under quarantine for a week due to canine parvovirus infections earlier this month.

Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo staff is scrambling to keep its animals warm as cool weather continues to sweep across the U.S.

A Citrus County couple sheltered an unusual pet for a week after finding it dodging traffic in Brooker, Fla.