Retail Store : Ed's Pet Motel and Grooming Parlor

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Winter Haven News Chief, August 4th 2002

By KIMBERLEE BETHANY news@newschief.com

WINTER HAVEN–In a hurricane situation, pets are not allowed at the temporary shelters. Pet owners can be faced with difficult decisions. Do you head for shelter and abandon your pets? Do you stay at home with the pets and risk the storm? Or do you evacuate the area with your pets, hoping to find an affordable hotel somewhere in the safe zone that accepts animals?

Local pet owners can now rest easy with the same solution TECO chose–Ed's Pet Motel on Avenue T, NW.

"TECO chose my place to leave the animals," said Ed Snead, owner of Ed's Pet Motel. "The employees of TECO can bring their animals in, and TECO will pay for it. They take up so many cages, in the event of a hurricane, and even if they don't use them all, they pay for them."

Snead has room for more than 100 animals at his facility, and he accepts all animals except snakes and reptiles. Snead's reasonable daily prices are based on the animal's weight. "We're well organized for a hurricane," Snead said. "The food truck comes every week. I've got a generator and everything, so if the lights go out, I won't be in the dark."

Snead also has a veterinarian on call for emergencies. "I figure if you run a nice place and keep a good. clean environment with what people need, people will patronize you," Snead said.

Snead is devoted to caring for the animals, even in the face of a weather disaster. "I'll be here," Snead said. "I will stay to take care of the animals."

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