The Lake County Animal Shelter is launching a new program to help decrease the feral cat population countywide. “Operation Community Caturday,” a partnership between the shelter and LEASH, Inc., will seek to sterilize up to 600 free-roaming cats per year.

Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return, or TNVR, improves the lives of cats, addresses community concerns, reduces complaints about cats, and stops the breeding cycle, according to leading cat advocacy group, Alley Cat Allies.

To further this cause, the shelter will sterilize and vaccinate up to 50 community cats on the last Saturday of each month.

“TNVR is the only humane and proactive approach to reducing the outdoor cat population,” said Shelter Director Whitney Boylston. “With the support of LEASH, Inc., we are able to offer this service at a very affordable rate, making sterilization of community cats more accessible to the public.”

Residents who are feeding outdoor cats are encouraged to register online for a TNVR appointment. The cost of the surgery will be $10 per cat, paid directly to the shelter by cash or card. 

Appointments are limited to five cats per resident per month, and each cat must arrive at the shelter on Friday between 6 and 7 p.m., or Saturday between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. All cats must be in a humane trap, be healthy, and be a minimum of four pounds.

Trapping and returning the cats is the responsibility of the caregiver and not a service provided by the shelter.Residents are required to pick-up the cats after surgery on Saturday afternoon and return them to the location where the cat was trapped. Operation Community Caturday is limited to un-owned, free-roaming cats, and all cats will be ear-tipped.

Participants may sign up directly via Eventbrite at here.  To find out more about the Lake County Animal Shelter, or to adopt or volunteer, stop by the shelter at 28123 County Road 561, Tavares, or call 352-343-9688.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, click here. To get area's news in your inbox once a month, subscribe to the free month issue of Mount Dora Buzz here. ​​​​​

Some makeovers are long overdue.  Harold, a stray Spaniel, was found this week severely neglected near Fruitland Park.  Lake County Animal Shelter staff removed nearly 6 pounds of matted fur and the 5-year-old pup is already feeling and looking much better.  

To coincide with the two-year anniversary of Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub attack, Mount Dora Community Building will host a screening of Lifeline: The Untold Story of Saving the Pulse Survivors, on Monday, June 11 at 7 p.m.  The film’s goal is to create awareness of the importance of donating blood in our community.

Lifeline delivers a never-before-seen perspective of what it took to save the lives of the Pulse victims on June 12, 2016.  It’s a story about extraordinary people who are forever linked by one of our nation’s worst mass shootings, yet their stories have never been told.

The emotional documentary features Pulse survivors as they learn of anonymous blood donors who are responsible for helping save their lives. The donors were of varying ages and backgrounds and previously unknown to the survivors.  

Ironically, although the Pulse attack targeted their community, many gay men were prohibited from donating blood to help the victims because the federal government has a policy that precludes them.

In remembrance of the Pulse victims, the City of Mount Dora will host two Unity Blood Drives for One Blood in front of City Hall.   The first will be Monday, June 11 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. It will be followed by another on Tuesday, June 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Two Big Red Buses will be parked at 510 N. Baker Street, downtown.  

At the film screening, donations will be accepted to help with improvements to the Community Building, including equipment needs to continue to bring high-quality productions to Mount Dora.

Doors for the screening open at 6:30 p.m. and the movie starts at 7:00 p.m.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, click here. Find out what's happening locally with just a tap on your phone by downloading the area's free mobile app.  Monthly issues of Mount Dora Buzz are available here.​

Providing a forever-home to furry friends in need just got easier.  “Hot Dogs, Cool Cats” is a free pet adoption event being held the second Saturday of June, July and August at Lake County Animal Shelter.  The no-kill shelter will offer free hot dogs and popsicles during the monthly event.     

“Summer is the ideal time for families to consider adopting a pet,” said Shelter Director Whitney Boylston. “Children are home from school and are able to spend quality time with their new best friend. Research suggests that having a pet helps kids increase self-esteem and compassion, among other positive effects.”

Families can consult with the shelter's staff to help choose a pet that is a good match for their family.

"Hot Dogs, Cool Cats” will be held on June 9, July 14 and Aug. 11 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the shelter, located at 28123 County Road 561, Tavares.

Lake County's mission is to have all savable animals adopted or rescued.   The public can help by fostering, adopting or sharing the adoptable pets on social media.

The event is sponsored by L.E.A.S.H., Inc., a non-profit agency based in Lake County that directly benefits shelter animals in need.   
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Most kids love a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  This summer that staple of childhood is being used to help bridge the local hunger gap which is magnified during summer when underprivileged kids miss their schools’ free breakfast and lunch programs that they depend on.   

Lake County's annual P. B. & J. Challenge is a way for residents and businesses to help put food in kids’ stomachs during summer break by donating unopened jars of peanut butter and jelly to Lake Cares Food Pantry.

Businesses, families, civic groups, kids, and co-workers that complete the challenge are encouraged to send Mount Dora Buzz, the event’s sponsor, a photo with their donation and issue a challenge to another group or family to make a P B & J donation. Mount Dora Buzz will post the photos and the challenges on its website.  

Participants can look for B.O.G.O. sales at their local grocery store to help make their donations go further.  Individuals can take their jars of peanut butter and jelly to the drop-off locations below until August 1.  Businesses and groups participating can email mountdorabuzz@yahoo.com for more information.

DROP OFF LOCATIONS:

Lake Cares Food Pantry
2001 W. Old Hwy 441 (at Morningside Dr.), Mount Dora
Open Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sat. 8 a.m. to noon

Mount Dora City Hall
510 N. Baker Street, Mount Dora
Open Monday-Friday,  8 a.m to 5 p.m.

Eustis City Hall
10 N. Grove Street, downtown Eustis
Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to  5 p.m. 

Every Nook & Cranny 
334 N. Donnelly St., downtown Mount Dora
Open 7 days a week, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Barrel of Books and Games
128 W. 4th Ave.,  downtown Mount Dora
Open 5 days a week, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closed Mondays & Tuesdays

Wise Chiropractic
18130 US Highway 441, Mount Dora (beginning July 2)
Open, Monday-Friday.  Closed between noon and 1 p.m.

Lake Eustis Museum of Art
1 West Orange Ave., downtown Eustis
Open 10--4pm, closed Sunday and Monday

Papilio
120 W. 5th Avenue, downtown Mount Dora 
Open 10:30-5:30 pm

Find more local news in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis here and follow Mount Dora Buzz on Facebook.   Free subscriptions to the monthly issue of 'The Buzz' are available here.

During summer break, some disadvantaged children miss the breakfasts and lunches they depend on at school.  To help close the childhood hunger gap, the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) ensures that low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals at Summer Break Spots when school is not in session.

In Mount Dora, Second Harvest Food Bank will once again provide free, healthy lunches to all kids 18-years-old and younger beginning May 29 at W.T. Bland Library at noon.  The program will continue Monday through Friday until August 10. No paperwork or registration is required, but kids must be in line in the Children’s Program Room by noon.   

East Lake County Library at 31440 State  Road 437 in Sorrento is another location for the program.   Lunches will be served Monday through Friday beginning May 29 and all kids should be in line by 11 a.m.   Check other local cities for more locations and times.

Last year there were over 3,500 Summer Break Spots in Florida where children received the free meals in a safe and supervised environment.  The program is federally-funded, state-administered, and run by qualified sponsors.  Last summer the USDA program planned to serve over 200 million free meals to kids.    

 Another local resource to help feed local children is the Summer Kids Packs of free food distributed by Real Life Church in Mount Dora.  Anyone interested can call 727-735-7748 for details.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, click here.  Find out what's happening locally with just a tap on your phone by downloading the area's free mobile app.  Monthly issues of Mount Dora Buzz are available here. 

 Lake County Firefighters are teaming up with the Lake County Animal Shelter to host the “Rescue Me” pet adoption event and cookout on May 19th at Lake County Animal Shelter.  

The Professional Firefighters of Lake County, Local 3990, will be cooking up complimentary BBQ for all shelter visitors throughout the day, and children will have the chance to learn about Lake County Fire Rescue apparatus and enjoy fire truck demonstrations. DJ Showtyme will provide entertainment, and LEASH, Inc. will sponsor free pet adoptions all day. 

“It is so exciting to partner with Lake County firefighters on this amazing event,” said Shelter Director Whitney Boylston. “These men and women are not only local heroes, but also animal lovers who are donating their time and resources to help find homes for homeless pets.”

One such animal lover is Firefighter David Manes of Station 76, who recently adopted his 9-year-old dog, Gus, from the Lake County Animal Shelter. His mission is to promote the adoption of senior dogs like Gus, who he said is “a little slower, but is relaxed and just sleeps all day on the couch.”

“Some people are stuck on getting full-blood dogs, but you can find what you’re looking for in the shelter,” said Manes. “Why spend hundreds of dollars when there are so many dogs at the shelter? There are some great animals there that need homes.”

The free, family-friendly event is Saturday, May 19 from 11 a.m. to 5p.m. at the shelter, located at 28123 County Road 561 in Tavares. 

For more information on adoptable animals call 352-343-9688. For more news in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, download the area's free mobile app. ​ Free subscriptions to the monthly issue of Mount Dora Buzz are available here.

Passersby on Old 441 in unincorporated Mount Dora did double-takes yesterday.  At approximately 2:30 p.m. witnesses reported a hefty pig on the loose that was hoofing it toward downtown.

Since Lake County’s Animal Control officers were busy, Mount Dora’s officer Cindy Blevins responded. ​

After Fiona, a 300-pound escape artist, was located, she was cornered in a backyard and corralled into a resident’s garage.   She was then reunited with her owner and returned home.

Although pigs are not the most common pets in the area, Mount Dora does have a few.  Perhaps the best known is Frazier, the fast and fiesty little pink pig often escorted downtown on a leash.  

​For more events and news in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, click here.  Find out what's happening locally with just a tap on your phone by downloading the area's free mobile app. Monthly issues of Mount Dora Buzz are available here.

The teen emailed Mount Dora Public Safety Director John O’Grady with an elaborate idea that involved the local teens getting pulled over by a police.

O’Grady quickly agreed to the clever ruse. “Community policing is important to us here at Mount Dora Police, and any time we can get our officers involved with a great little moment like this, it reflects just how dedicated our officers are,” said O’Grady.  
 
Soon Clark was coordinating the details with Officer Ivy Severance.  Finally, on a recent evening after school, the plan unfolded with a GoPro secretly recording the antics (see video below).  Clark picked up Slaby in his vintage 1971 Mustang, and he was soon pulled over by Sergeant Keith Taylor and Corporal Adam McCulloch for allegedly speeding.  ​