Doggone Nice Time Had By All

Published: Oct 14, 2007

TAMPA - Hundreds of dogs of all shapes and sizes - and their owners - participated Saturday in Stride for Strays, an annual pet walk and fundraiser for the Animal Coalition of Hillsborough County.

Wearing full-blown costumes or adorned with colorful bandannas, the dogs walked a mile around Tampa's Al Lopez Park. It was part of the annual pet awareness event that benefited the coalition's spay/neuter clinic.

Vendors, including various breed rescue organizations, pet sitters and trainers, and dog apparel designers, converged on the park about 9 a.m. Girl Scouts set up dog watering holes as other volunteers distributed plastic bags for proper pooper-scooper etiquette.

The Johnny G. Lyon Band performed, and Dick Crippen emceed the event, which also included a pet agility demonstration and a dog costume contest.

A golden retriever wearing a "Pirates of the Caribbean" Jack Sparrow costume, complete with braided wig, won Best Dressed. Teams of walkers also competed to raise the most money and earn the coveted Golden Bone Award.

Traffic was thick and parking in the area was at a premium, with the University of South Florida-University of Central Florida football game at nearby Raymond James Stadium. Some dogs in the park sported green and yellow jerseys in support of the Bulls.

Kim MacCormack