Pets/Wildlife

Daisy is a rescue from Pasco County Animal Services. She is 3 ½ years old. Daisy was adopted a year ago. She was going to be destroyed, as she was not doing well, but looking into her beautiful copper eyes, her family knew where she belonged. Daisy loves to sit by the pool and to play with her stuffed animals. She is doing great and has gained 15 pounds. Daisy’s patience and love rescued her proud owner, Eileen Halczyn of Wesley Chapel.

Lillian Cucuzza, of Land O’ Lakes, captured this photo of a male rose-breasted grosbeak on her feeder. Cucuzza sees quite a variety of feathered friends during the short-lived Spring migration of birds coming up from the Florida Keys.

Self-proclaimed amateur photographer Margaret DeSisto captured this photo of a Great Horned Owl and a fledgling (about 5-weeks old) in a nest in Philippe Park in Safety Harbor. These owls use a broad range of habitats, including swamps, deserts, tropical rainforests, cities, orchards, suburbs, parks, and deciduous and evergreen forests.

This cutie was found in an alley when he was about a week old. Named Precious, he has adapted to the indoors like a champ. He loves playing on the sofa cushions much better than climbing on the old tires where he was born. Precious’ happy owner is Richard Arto, of San Antonio.

Michael Rowshan saw a few Sandhill Cranes in the Wesley Chapel area, and just had to snap a photo. Sandhill Cranes are similar in plumage, but they vary in size. ‘Lesser’ Sandhill Cranes breed in the Arctic and are the smallest; the largest form — ‘Greater” Sandhill Crane — breeds in the northern U.S. The non-migratory ‘Florida’ Sandhill Crane and a form that breeds in central Canada are intermediate in size.

Ms. Jean is a 5-pound Maltipoo. She loves walking and running in the yard, and around the neighborhood everyday. Ms. Jean’s proud owner is Pam Bruschi of Land O’ Lakes.

Lillian Cucuzza, of Land O’ Lakes, was sitting with her camera in her backyard, waiting for a painted bunting to return to her feeder. She heard multiple high-pitched, but faint, whistles. High up in the Cypress trees out in the preserve east of her property, Cucuzza spotted an ‘earful’ (or flock, or ‘museum’) of Cedar Waxwings sitting in the top of a tree. The sun came out from behind a cloud and lit the birds up, like gold. Cucuzza said we live in an incredible area for the migration of “a lot of really cool birds.”

Champ is a 3 ½-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier. He is 75 pounds and the biggest baby you’ll ever meet. Champ loves his family, is very goofy and truly a gentle giant. In fact, he is so gentle, his best friend is the family’s 4-year-old orange tabby cat. Both were rescued as babies and have grown up together. They are two unusual best friends who enjoy staring out the window at birds, cuddling on the couch and even going on walks together. Anthony and Sarah Lella, of Land O’ Lakes, love their pets and could not imagine a life without them.

Dave Pagni, of Seven Oaks in Wesley Chapel, was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of this barred owl, a ‘resident’ at Lettuce Lake Park, off Fletcher Avenue in Tampa. The owl, also known as the hoot owl, roosts quietly in forest trees during the day. It seeks prey by watching from a perch, and also by flying low through forests.

Hero is a 5-year-old Shih Tzu/Havanese terrier mix, adopted from the Hillsborough County shelter. He is named after Big Hero 6, a Disney animated film. Upon adoption, Hero was very sick with a case of pneumonia, and it was thought he would not survive. But, with time, love and medication, he pulled through and has been such a joy. Hero is very smart and house-trained (a bonus), great with children and genuinely loves everyone. Hero lives with his family, Jennifer Cazares and her son, Greyland (in photo), in Carrollwood.