Commissioner Murman mentioned in this Tampa Tribune article on

Island Paws Party finds homes for furry friends

BY MARY SCOURTES GREACEN
Special Correspondent
Published: April 22, 2015

TAMPA — The pets had their paws crossed they would be adopted. Sixteen dogs — and a few tabbies — arrived for snuggles, smooches and adoption at the 2015 Island Paws Party on April 10 to benefit the Tampa Humane Society.

The old saying that you can’t buy happiness didn’t include the unmitigated joy of holding a puppy or kitten.

A sellout crowd — more than 200 — cooed and awed over the furry, four-legged Edmond and Ella, great Pyrenees mixes; Revi, a basset hound; and Wolfgang, a German shepherd.

Eight dogs and one kitten found happiness that night.

The rest were all in new homes by the end of the weekend.

“My husband and I are animal lovers,” says Nancy Newman, who, with husband Tom, offered their Davis Islands home for food and fanfare.

You would not believe everything the Human Society of Tampa Bay does, she says.

“It is amazing,” she says about the Humane Society’s veterinary care, behavioral work and outreach programs. “They do so much to help these animals get ready to go to their forever homes.

“My husband and I want to do anything we can to help.”

The fundraiser was successful.

“Events like this where we meet new people are really nice and the money that helps support the shelter is critical,” says Nancy McCall, director of Planned Giving and Grants for the Humane Society of Tampa Bay.

Both Nancys were on the Island Paws Party committee that included Kris Boos, Jenn Fadel, Maite Gonzalez-Rodriguez, Elizabeth Harris, Commissioner Sandra Murman, Kelly Ray, JoAnn Strober, Cathy Suglia, Julie Tate, Brenda Trayner, Nancy Turner and Walter Woolf.

“We are very appreciative of the Newmans for the use their home,” says McCall.

In all, the one-night event brought in $20,000 for the Humane Society