Florida Small Businesses Help Promote Shelter Pets in the Most Creative Way
We've all seen those sad TikTok videos of shelter animals waiting for forever homes, and it's only natural to want to help. We're right there with everyone who says they wish they could adopt every shelter pet! In reality though, very few people are in a position to adopt or foster an animal right now.
Don't worry--there are lots of other ways to help shelter animals if you're willing to get creative. Lauri Partanio, founder of the "Pizza for Pets" campaign, told ABC Action News what she did to help.
Lauri had the idea of Pizza for Pets in February 2023, and since then the program has helped 37 animals find forever homes. We'd call that a major success! In fact, the business owner, who used to work at Hillsborough Animal Control, now runs a business called Professional Pets Florida, thanks to her success.
A large part of her work includes creating and distributing custom-made fliers featuring adoptable pets. These fliers then go to local businesses, who hand them out to customers. As the name Pizza for Pets implies, she started by giving fliers to pizza shops--and the business grew from there!
ABC Action News lists the restaurants participating in the Pizza for Pets program:
PizzaVola Express – Riverview, Florida
Frankie’s Italian Deli – Riverview, Florida
Nick’s Pizzaria & Wings – Plant City, Florida
Bloomingdale Pizza – Brandon, Florida
Fishhawk Pizza – Lithia, Florida
Justin’s Pizza – Riverview, Florida
Salty Shamrock Irish Pub – Apollo Beach, Florida
The Healthy Spot – Apollo Beach, Florida
Vine Vegan – Brandon, Florida
Vegan International Co. – Tampa, Florida
All of the adoptable dogs and cats featured on the flier are waiting at Tampa's Pet Resource Center to be adopted.
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