Can we plan a big Tampa, FL area meetup?!
 

I don't know how to get this started but there were a lot of people in my Bam Bam thread from florida that were interested in a Tampa, FL meetup. Who organized the last one (in Orlando, earlier this year)? Anyone else interested?! Post here if you are, so we can see how many people are willing to come! :thumbup: If anyone has suggestions for dates or places, post that as well as I do not know of many dog parks :D

I am from Miami, but I am willing to drive up for a big meetup. I love planning so let me know.

I found this list of dog friendly parks and beaches.

FloridaPets.net - The Web's #1 resource for all that is pet friendly in Florida

I am not very familiar with the area so maybe you can let me know about them.

I'm in
 

I would come if it doesn't conflict with the babies leaving later this summer -

Bam Bam and his siblings and Sally's babies will be leaving in July and August but i would really like to come - maybe i will get to see some of my babies that are down that way ( Orlando, Tampa , Miami, West Palm and other places )

Let me know when you get it together

Did you get the pics of BamBam in my pocket ?

I live near Tampa and I would love it.

Thanks for the info! I would be interested!!
It just depends on the day you choose and if i have to work or not.:D

Well if you love planning, by all means take the lead!! :)

I read through a few of them in the tampa area... I live outside tampa so i am not familiar with certain areas but i think the clearwater, st petersburg or tampa area would be nice. I hadnt thought of a beach but because it will be summer i think that would be nice, but I read through some of the reviews and I dont like the idea of big dogs running off leash when we will have little bitty doggies with us.. but if anyone knows of a good one and its safe(!!) let us know.. the only one i saw that Ive heard of before is the mango dog park...


if anyones been there it would be great to have some input!! or if anyone can suggest another nice place...

I think the weekend would be best for most people .. would you agree? :animal36

I just looked at the calendar and July 4th is a friday ... which might give people time to travel if they needed to. hum I dont know if people woudl come that weekend though.. they might have other plans and it might be too soon maybe? i dunno.. thoughts?

I live near Tampa but will not be there until early november now.. so we need to plan one for around that time too.... I know you want one this summer.. but I so want one to happen when we get there.. anne

I'm an hour north of Tampa so might be able to meet up if it is the right day and time and place....................LOTS OF "IFS".....:)

Well it was 100 here today..lol
So it needs to be early morning or late afternoon.
I took Bella to Mango once.
They do have large areas for both small and big dogs. Both are enclosed by a fence. HOWeVer. People put their large breen puppies in the small dog side. A puppy that was 3 times her size pounched on her and pinned her to the ground. she yelped and he owner just stood there.
I think i remember seeing a few picnic tables some covered i think.
I could check others out if anyone had a preference or idea

where exactly are you? im in spring hill. Sounds like you might be close. I used to live in tampa though (temple terrace actually) and I went to college in st pete. I understand about the drive!! I do it all the time though as all my friends are still in tampa

ugh!! why would you put a big puppy in there that is 3 times as big as the other little GROWN dogs.. come on.. people dont think things through!

thanks for offering to check places out... i was thinking maybe someone could check out some of the dog beaches :thumbup:

I researched it a little more and the fort desoto paw playground does have fenced in areas for small dogs and big dogs, as well as access to the beach/water (leash free). Its supposed to be one of the better dog beaches.

Is there anyone who has been there that is willing to give it a review? and/or someone to check it out? I might be willing to go check it out--

I found a video @ where you can get a look at the beach :animal-pa

I would def. be interested cause i am visiting my dad this summer in Tampa, i just dont know exactly when im going yet or who im taking with me

I like the for desoto park paw playground it looks great. I will read up on it tomorrow :) . The Problem is setting the date....ummm......I say maybe after July 4 because people have lots of plans, we could do it on a Saturday or Sunday morning. Maybe July 21 or 22?

those dates are good for me. I like the fort desoto park as well :thumbup:

I am game for after the 4th of July too! I will also tell Nikki who lives here with me on the East Coast and see if she would be interested in taking a drive over too with me. :D

awe guys I am jealous that I am north right now.. but please plan on another one when I get back to florida..anne

awww I wanna come.... I may be back down in November..

We are going to hold a meet-up.

We are not sure on the time yet. Let me know please :)

Attached is the invitation.

I'm going to have to miss this one.:( I know y'all will have a blast- it was so much fun meeting everyone at the last one.:)

Lori that is perfect timing for me... we go to florida in november...anne

Woo! Mr. Biggs, Capone and I will definately be there! I'm also going to see about getting 2 of my friends that have yorkies to go.

I just now found this thread thanks to FL Tink. I absolutely love the Ft. Desoto dog beach. I've taken the boys there twice and am going again next weekend. lol. It's such a clean beach considering it's a dog beach w/ a lot of larger dogs. But all the dogs that go there seem to be very well behaved. The park/paw playground part isn't the best dog park....it's kind of a bit unkept. lol. But they do have a very large wash area that's good for hosing them off to get all the sand out of their hair after the beach.

Also, we can bring a grill (if anyone has a mini one) and we could grill up hot dogs or burgers or something. They have a lot of grassy areas under trees that people often bbq in. Also, don't know if anyone mentioned it before, but if you have unbrellas or x-pens, you sould definately bring them. Oh, and plenty of towels! The sand gets so hot that we had to carry the boys to the water. lol. And the beach unbrellas were a definate need....we stayed at the beach for hours last time, since the unbrella took off some of the heat.

Also, once we get a an approximate number of people that are coming, we can also see if there is a place around there where we can eat afterwards w/ our furbabies. I know of a nice pizza/italian place that's not too far away....but they only have a few tables outside.

I'm a big planner, so let me know if you need any help! Can't wait to meet you all!

oh, if you're not sure of a time, I'd say maybe at 10 or 12 (to give people time to get there). I went around 11ish the last time and there was still plenty of beach space available. I know form my house it's a little over an hour away....so we don't want to make people get up too early. lol

I don't understand. Pets can be on any part of the beach? Or only in the paw playground?

They have a fenced in grassy area for small and large dogs. Then they also have a beach just for dogs....but it is just a 1/2 mile stretch of the beach that the dogs can be on.... they just can't be on any other parts of the beach not zoned for dogs.

here are some pics of the boys enjoying the beach a few weeks ago:

Looks really fun! I can't wait!

I have a mini grill I can bring! :)

thanks for the suggestions on what to bring! i think the bbq idea is fantastic.. i need to get an umbrella!

You're welcome! I only mentioned it because the last time I went to the dog beach with one of my friends, she definately wasn't prepared... she wasn't even going to bring a towel. lol