Hydrants for Hounds - Nate's Honor Animal Rescue

/
Jessica Ortiz and Jerry Bladdick. Photography by Wendy Dewhurst-Clark.

Jessica Ortiz and Jerry Bladdick. Photography by Wendy Dewhurst-Clark.

See gallery from Hydrants for Hounds.

Nate's Honor Animal Rescue received some serious sprucing up - with a little help from 35 Ringling College of Art and Design (RCAD) incoming freshmen - at its first annual Hydrants for Hounds event, held at Nate's Ranch on Lorraine Road.
As part of their Ringling College orientation, incoming freshmen are required to participate in a full day of community service at a charity of their choice.
Nate's Events Chairwoman Jessica Ortiz said she got the idea for the event when CEO Dari Oglesby sent her a pin from Pinterest of a fire hydrant painted like a dog. She contacted Manatee County and they donated four retired (though still working) hydrants to Nate's. She then contacted Ringling, and asked if they could possibly get four freshmen to come out and help.
What she got - much to her amazement and joy - was 35 talented young artists.
"It all started with a pin and just snowballed from there," Ortiz said.
The Ringling students got busy early, painting rooms, new signage and, of course, the hydrants, as guests wandered through, greeting dogs and learning all about Nate's.
Also on hand was a fire truck from East Manatee Fire Rescue (Station 5, Engine 651), and Freddy's Frozen Custard and Steakburgers, donating a portion of the day's proceeds back to Nate's.
Guests were greeted at the entrance by nine adorable nine-week-old hound-mix puppies, that had been fostered for Nate's by Barb Pierce from Plant City. "I am an empty nester," Barb explained. "Fostering these pups is my way of feeling needed."
While the puppies garnered lots of oohs and aahs, there were more dogs waiting to be seen, 13 cottages in all, with six dogs per cottage. Guests could tour the entire facility, that also includes an agility course for the dogs and a playground for visiting kids.
Seen at the event were Jerry Bladdick, assistant Vice President at RCAD, Rob Oglesby, Rick Archer and Killy Pope (who brought their yellow lab, Lillie Mae) and took home "Palette," one of those nine hound puppies, Bethany and Sean Jarolin, who adopted another of those puppies, "Glaze," Hampton Julmis, Mary Dvorsky, Alli Luihn, Henry Blue, Lynn Strype and Keegan Strype and many more.
According to Ortiz, last year Nate's adopted out 1,500 animals, and has already passed the 1,100 mark this year. "We would love to adopt out 2,000 animals this year," she said.
Nate's began when four women asked Nate Benderson if they could hold adoption events in one of his properties' parking lots. Benderson  - whose love of animals is well-documented - went much further, providing the space for Nate's Adoption Center in Cooper Creek, and later the eight acres on which Nate's Ranch sits today, and the space for Paws Attic (a thrift store that supports Nate's Honor Rescue).

Last modified: August 15, 2016
All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be published without permissions. Links are encouraged.