Help Control the Pet Population!

Do you have a dog or cat (or two or three)?  Consider helping all pets by reducing the number that will become homeless.  Help control the pet population by having your family pets spayed or neutered.  Think you can't afford it?  There are several low-cost or free spaying/neutering programs our there.

Non-Profit Spay/Neuter Clinics in Pasco County and the surrounding areas are:

PLANNED PETHOOD
Non-Profit Spay, Neuter & Shots
5053 Gall Blvd.
Zephyrhills, FL 33542
(813) 779-7000
www.plannedpethoodpasco.org

P.A.W.S.
Non-Profit Spay/Neuter Clinic
11720 US 19
Port Richey, FL 34668
(727) 819-1910, (727) 863-1309
www.pawsfl.com

PetLuv
Non-Profit Spay/Neuter Clinic
7346 Broad St. (US 41)
Brooksville, FL 34601
(352) 799-9990

Animal Coalition of Tampa (ACT)

Non-Profit Spay/Neuter Clinic
1719 W. Lemon St.
Tampa, FL 33606
(Neuter Scooter pick-up in Wesley Chapel)
(813) 250-3900
www.actampa.org

Spay Pasco
Non-Profit Spay/Neuter Clinic Database
San Antonio, FL
(352) 585-6205
www.spaypasco.com

For low- or no-cost spay/neuter clinics in other areas, visit the ASPCA's Free and Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Database.

Free Income Tax Help & Resources

It's tax time!  Time to gather up all of your W2's, 1099's, and whatever receipts you may need, sharpen those pencils and... wait a minute.  Didn't get your 1040 form and instructions in the mail like you normally do?  Need help navigating the different stimulus refunds available to you?  Here are some resources that may help.

If you are used to filling out the paper tax forms but would like to save yourself a trip to the post office and get your refund faster, consider e-filing for free!  Online forms are available through the Free File Alliance.  Your information is password-protected and you can fill out your forms online and send them electronically to the IRS at no charge.  Check it out at www.freefilefillableforms.com.

If you want to have the paper tax forms to get your information or if you just feel more comfortable mailing paper forms to the IRS, your local Pasco County library has the basic 1040, 1040A, and 1040EZ forms and instructions, as well as the most popular schedules and additional forms.  The staff at the Information Desk can print copies of other forms for you from the IRS's website for $0.10 per page.

Need a little hand-holding from a trained professional?  Low to moderate income people can make appointments through the United Way's Prosperity Campaign to receive free tax preparation help.  For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the United Way at 2-1-1 (in Pasco County only).

Additionally, AARP's Tax Aide program offers free tax preparation help from trained volunteers during tax season.  Visit their website for a location near you.

FREE Dental Work TOMORROW in New Port Richey!

Tomorrow is the 10th Annual Dentistry From the Heart free dental care event at Monticciolo General and Sedation Dentistry, located at 4530 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey, FL.  500 patients will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis, starting at 7:30 a.m.  You may want to dig out that sleeping bag and prepare to camp out, as hundreds of people are lined up before dawn for this once a year event.

The dental staff will be providing free cleanings, fillings and extractions.  Referrals will be made for patients needing additional dental work performed.  Patients must be 18 years or older, and there are no income requirements to qualify.  For more information, visit their website.

If you can't make it tomorrow, another event will be held in the Tampa Bay area on Friday, March 5, at Marnie C. Bauer & Associates, located at 4306 West Kensington Ave. in Tampa, FL.  Visit their website or call the office at (813) 434-0305 for more information.

It's Fair Season in Florida!

February is here, which means the local and state fairs can't be far off!  Take a look at the dates for this year's festivities and plan your trips now.

Fort Dade Mountain Man Rendezvous
Feb. 6-8, 2010
Withlacoochee River Park, Dade City, FL
See how people lived in the early 19th century.

Florida State Fair
Feb. 4-15, 2010
Florida State Fairgrounds
4800 Hwy 301 N
Tampa, FL

Pasco County Fair
Feb. 15-21, 2010
Pasco County Fairgrounds
36722 State Road 52
Dade City, FL

Florida Strawberry Festival
Mar. 4-14, 2010
303 North Lemon St.
Plant City, FL

Aid for Haiti

If you want to send a monetary donation to relief efforts in Haiti, you can do so now via your cell phone.  Simply send a text message to one of the following groups:

• Text "Yele" to 501501 to donate $5 on behalf of the Yéle Foundation, the leading contributor to rebuilding Haiti founded by Wyclef Jean.
• Text "Haiti" to 20222 to donate $10 on behalf of The Clinton Foundation (former President Clinton is Special Envoy to Haiti)
• Text "Haiti" to 85944 to donate $5 on behalf of the Rescue Union Mission and MedCorp International.
• Text "Haiti" to 25383 to donate $5 on behalf of the Internal Rescue Committee.
• Text "Haiti" to 90999 to donate $10 on behalf of the Red Cross in the U.S.

If you do not have a cell phone, do not have text messaging enabled, or wish to donate online or in another fashion, please click on the link below for more options:


How you can help Haiti

Christmas Tree Recycling

Christmas is over and you are taking down your decorations.  Have you thought about what you are going to do with your cut fresh Christmas tree?  Consider donating it to Pasco County Parks & Recreation for use as mulch in the county parks.  From now through January 9, Pasco County will be accepting Christmas trees to mulch.  Drop-off sites are located throughout the county.  Please be sure that all decorations, wire hangers, lights, tinsel, etc. are removed from the tree before you drop it off.  For more information and for pickup site locations, please click on the link below.

Pasco County will recycle Christmas trees for mulch through Jan. 9 - St. Petersburg Times

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Holiday Help

If you are in need of assistance this holiday season, there are several community organizations you can contact for help.  Below are a few of the community organizations offering holiday help this year:

Boxes of Joy
Joining Hands Community Mission
3214 US Highway 19
Holiday, FL 34690
(727) 937-3268 - Ask for Nancy
Provides toys for children and needed personal items for adults.  Proof of West Pasco residency and meet poverty guidelines for eligibility.

Toys for Tots
Countywide
Christmas programs provided through the Marine Corps with DCF clients.  Eligible candidates must be current clients with the Department of Children & Families and submit an application to the DCF office.

Christmas Assistance
Salvation Army of West Pasco
8040 Washington St.
Port Richey, FL 34668
(727) 847-6321
Anyone in need of services who meets income guidelines.  Call for more information.