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The Pasco Sheriff’s Office has two new additions to its K9 crew — bloodhound puppies named Hemi and Shelby.
Both Hemi and Shelby are 3-month-old littermates that were born in Kentucky.
In about 10 months, this pair will help locate missing people, including those who have wandered from home, as single-purpose tracking K9s, according to a news release.
Two-year-old Lilliana Joiner has a remedy for all of the loud gunfire during the World War II re-enactment, at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village in Dade City. The little girl was visiting with her parents, Daniel and Danielle Joiner. Her 8-year-old sister, Sophia, and 6-year-old sister, Michelle, were there, as was her grandmother, Bonnie Lyke, and other friends. See more photos from the event in the full coverage story.
Those attending the Charity Festival of Arts could view an art competition, enjoy a talent showcase, visit a variety of vendors, and kids could make crafts, at an April 17 event at Heritage Park, in Land O’ Lakes, benefiting Gulfside Hospice.
Since 1996, Cpl. Joe Liddick has served the citizens of Pasco County as a member of the Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO). During that time, he spent more than 21 years within the PSO K-9 Unit, and served with his partners K-9 Nik, K-9 Ace and K-9 Chris, according to a news release.
Cpl. Liddick has answered countless calls for service and has conducted thousands of tracks. The tracks resulted in the location of 764 suspects, missing persons and suicidal individuals throughout Pasco County.
Both Cpl. Liddick and K-9 Chris also have been established members of the Tampa Bay Regional Bomb Squad, as an explosive detection K-9 team. As members of this team, the partners conducted hundreds of explosive sniffs to ensure the safety of the citizens of the Tampa Bay area at large venues and festivals.
K-9 Chris began serving Pasco County in February 2016, and in addition to his service as part of the Regional Bomb Squad, he has helped recover numerous missing individuals in Pasco County, as well.
The German shepherd was born on Nov. 16, 2014, in Germany and was certified in patrol work and explosives detection.
Both Cpl. Liddick and K-9 Chris celebrated their retirements on April 5.
ZooTampa at Lowry Park has announced the newest addition to its family — a baby welcomed by Siamang gibbons Hutan and Sensei, on Feb. 24. Siamangs occupy habitats as extensive as 50 acres in the wild, and their calls can be heard up to 2 miles away. The baby’s birth is a positive step forward in maintaining the population of these swinging primates for generations to come.
The recent cooler temperatures, and breezy, sunny Spring days brought out an abundance of residents and wildlife at Lettuce Lake Park. The Hillsborough County-run park, which opened in 1982, is 240 acres, just outside the city limits of Tampa, on Fletcher Avenue between Interstate 75 and the University of South Florida. The Hillsborough River runs through it.
Event-goers to the Jelly Bean Fling at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, in Dade City, had the chance to visit the Easter Bunny, grab a bite to eat, make an Easter bonnet, search for eggs and take in a bubble show, among other things. For a more detailed look at the festivities during the March 20 event, see the full story.
Michael Ereon caught his barred owl perched atop a couple of street signs in Lexington Oaks, in Wesley Chapel. Barred owls roost quietly in forest trees during the day, though they occasionally can be heard calling in daylight hours. At night they hunt small animals, especially rodents, and give an instantly recognizable ‘Who cooks for you?’ call.
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office alongside the Tampa Police Department paid tribute to MPO Jesse Madsen, of Wesley Chapel, who was killed in the line of duty on March 9. This flag, on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, honors Office Madsen and his service.
