Pets & Animals

Laurie Hood received the Daily Point of Light Award from President George H. W. Bush for going above and beyond to rescue abused, neglected, and homeless animals through her non-profit shelter, Alaqua Animal Refuge.

Laurie feels honored to be chosen as a Daily Point of Light recipient. Since 2007, she has worked to create a safe haven for animals in need, and has saved almost 10,000 animals in the process. 

SoWal local Brock Ellis had the experience of a lifetime recently when he got to swim with a group of seven manatees along the shore at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. Brock was able to capture exciting photos and video (below) of the manatees.

It's not uncommon to see manatees swimming east in South Walton in the Spring as they migrate up from Southwest Florida, and again swimming west to get back down south in the Fall. Brock works on the beach so has a front row seat for all the great wildlife action in the Gulf.

“I've got a turtle," South Walton Turtle Watch volunteer Bob Veltri shouted, as he scooped up the first turtle and held it gently in his gloved hand. Veltri was the first to dig in the sand as he and his companions looked for traces of the inhabitants of the nest.

Al Murphy, in charge of this night’s dig, brought over a bucket filled with damp sand.
 

"Very gently put him in the bucket," Murphy instructed.

Celebrate Earth Day with the experts at the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center on Saturday, April 5, 2014. The event is a community festival geared towards appreciating, conserving and learning about the world we live in.

You and your four-legged friends are invited to come to the Shops of Grayton on March 1 and be a part of history. Dog Daze is a fundraiser for Alaqua Animal Refuge and for $50 you can have a professional artist help you add your pup's portrait to the "New Dogs of Grayton" wall of canine fame.

Families and friends, furry and otherwise, are invited to the Third Annual Rosemary Beach Unleashed event coming up on Sunday, Nov. 17. The community festival is a fun filled afternoon on East Long Green from 1 to 4 p.m. This year, dogs can participate in a variety of competitions such as children’s handling, best trick, dog fashion show, and agility demonstrations. Music, bake sale, children's dance performances, and photo opps will entertain one and all. Pet adoptions, pet-icures and "purr"fect tie-dye shirts are all part of the fun day in Rosemary Beach. 

Bow Wow Meow Pet Company is now selling raffle tickets for a chance to win a brand new, locally designed and constructed doghouse. Raffle tickets are $10 for one or $15 for two. The raffle winner will be chosen on December 28, 2013 with all profits going to benefit Seaside Animal Rescue. Make sure to stop by Bow Wow Meow Pet Company in Seagrove Beach, any day of the week, to see this adorable house and to purchase your raffle tickets.
 

Here's your chance to win a pair of tickets to Artists for Animals at Grayt Grounds of Monet Monet in Grayton Beach, Nov. 14, 2013. The event will benefit two local charities, Alaqua Animal Refuge and Sinfonia Gulf Coast. SoWal.com is giving away two pairs of tickets to this grayt event - we'll pick two random winners on Nov. 11, 2013. 

Under the Florida Wildlife Commission’s Florida Black Bear Management Plan , approved in 2012, seven bear management units (BMUs) will be established throughout the state. The West Panhandle BMU, encompassing the counties of Escambia, Holmes, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton, will be the first to be created.

Shelter House held the official ribbon cutting ceremony today for the Kind Heart Kennel, an on-site kennel at its confidential emergency shelter that will allow abuse victims to bring their pets with them when leaving a violent home. With the opening of the Kind Heart Kennel, Shelter House becomes the only center in Northwest Florida and one of only a few in the entire state to provide this service.