Pets/Wildlife

Frank Smith snapped this photo of a family of deer out for a stroll in the Grand Oaks community, in Land O’ Lakes.

Rowdy is a 9-year-old Aussie mix rescued eight years ago through Australian Shepherds Furever. He loves to play with his human siblings, being outdoors, and will do anything for a piece of cheese. Rowdy is great with kids and loves meeting new people. Ziva is a 10-year-old mini Aussie and has been with her family since she was a puppy. She’s been spoiled since Day One. These days, Ziva prefers to sleep on the couch or in mom’s bed, but when she’s feeling spunky, she loves to fetch tennis balls. Ziva is a total princess who loves her people, but tolerates everyone else (including Rowdy). Her favorite treats are anything the toddler in the house drops on the floor! Rowdy and Ziva live with the Weber family in Land O’ Lakes.

Sharon Strawn said both she and this corn snake were startled while she was raking leaves on the side of her house in Valencia Gardens, in Land O’ Lakes. Corn snakes are sometimes called rat snakes and their habitats are most abundant in Florida and the southeastern states. These snakes inhabit wooded groves, rocky hillsides, meadowlands, woodlots, rocky open areas, tropical hammocks, barns and abandoned buildings.

Jessie was adopted at a PetSmart charity event and enjoyed her 15th Christmas with Sharon Welsh and family in Tampa. Although she is an adult, Jessie still plays like a kitten. The family believes every pet deserves a happy, safe and loving home.

Longtime nature and wildlife lover, and newcomer to the region Kirk Peters sent this photo he snapped of turtles that seem quite ‘focused’ on each other, along the River Rapids Trail at Hillsborough State Park in Thonotosassa. Peters was hoping to see and capture a shot of a resident alligator, but said he settled for this more tranquil scene.

Timmy was adopted from Pasco County Animal Services in April 2019 when he was approximately 1 year old. He previously had a rough life, but has a very happy one now and enjoys being his family’s little boy. Timmy uses all areas in the home, including the music room! Timmy lives with his parents, Sandy Rotunda and Kathy Turner, in Land O’ Lakes.

Barry White snapped this photo of a spoonbill seeming to taxi down a water runway in Wesley Chapel.

Somi is a 2-year-old Shiba Inu. She is quite playful and has a very gentle disposition and befriends just about everyone she meets. Somi is naturally inquisitive, with a sense of smell that seems to be unparalleled for finding that errant treat hiding under the sofa. Her favorite time of the day is the evening, when the family is home together and she can be seen making the rounds, getting a good scratch and ear massage. If you look closely, you can see her smiling — it’s absolutely adorable and warms her family’s hearts. Somi lives in Land O’ Lakes with Jeff and Debbie Hanneken.

Will Kuhns snapped this photo of a dragonfly in his Ballantrae neighborhood in Land O’ Lakes. Dragonflies are powerful and agile fliers, capable of migrating across the sea, moving in any direction and changing direction suddenly. The adult dragonfly can propel itself in six directions: upward, downward, forward, backward, to the left and to the right.

Dobby was adopted in July 2022 from the Mercy Full Project in Tampa that rescued him from a not-so-loving home. He is named after the elf from Harry Potter. Dobby plays all day and gets a lot of treats, and he just wants to be loved. Dobby lives with his proud parents, Tyler Staggs and Noel Damouni, in Land O’ Lakes.