Dr. Hal Ott and daughter Diane Cooper pose with one of their canine patients, Champagne, owned by Carol Wuester of Ruskin.
Lisa Stark photos.
Veterinarian, humanitarian, philanthropist and community leader, Dr. Hal Ott is clearly a man who never stops seeking worthy endeavors.
Glance at the wall of memorabilia that graces the waiting area of his Ruskin Animal Hospital, and you will see photos of a man who has also lived a life of adventure: Ott perched on the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro in 1997, the highest point in Africa; whitewater rafting down the Grand Canyon with daughter Diane in 2000; and visiting the island of Haiti on his annual trip to help the impoverished people of that Caribbean nation for which he has developed a profound compassion during the past 15 years.
Currently, Ott is busy launching his one-of-a-kind event here in Ruskin: The Canine Carnival, set to take place at Ott’s Off-Leash Dog Sanctuary this Saturday, March 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“I feel positive that this will be the largest off-leash dog event ever to take place in Hillsborough County,” he said. “We have five major sponsors from the area, and anticipate over 20 vendors to participate.”
The Canine Carnival promises to be a fun, family event, with music, food, and vendor booths, some of which relate to pet ownership, others that are of general community interest.
Connie Borgman from Sun City Center, with dogs Hanna and Riley.
There will be 100 or more dogs “off the leash” enjoying the event, which will include raffles, a pet fashion show, silly pet tricks, and a pet-owner “look-alike” contest. Admission to the event is free, but donations to the park are welcome.
Ott first got the idea to create a dog park in his hometown of Ruskin after visiting Central Park in New York City.
“I was amazed to see dogs running together, off-the-leash, not fighting, and having a wonderful time,” he said. Ott purchased 3.75 acres of land in Ruskin, and opened his dog park to the public in November 2004. Since then, he has added more than two additional acres to the park, providing a place of “natural beauty and serenity” for dogs and their owners alike to converge.
“We just love it here,” said Connie Borgman from Sun City Center, who visits the park weekly with her two golden retrievers, Hanna and Riley.
“I come here almost every day,” said Michael Kaden of Apollo Beach, who finds it the perfect place for his German shorthair pointer, Rommel, to run and play.
So far, Ott’s Ruskin Animal Hospital, which he has operated for 44 years, has provided the majority of the financial support for his Off-Leash Dog Sanctuary. But since the park receives no county, state or federal assistance, Ott would like to see more financial involvement from the community.
The dog park relies solely on donations from private individuals to maintain its nearly six acres, which include mowing, tree trimming, fence repair and resurfacing the gravel walking path.
In addition to creating the dog park, Ott has continued to serve in many other ways, through his veterinary practice and humanitarian pursuits. The Ruskin Animal Hospital houses one of only a few licensed facilities in the state of Florida for radioactive treatment of feline hyperthyroidism, which Ott has furnished as a comfortable “cat lounge” with a cozy parlor-like feel. Ott is also founder of the Critter Adoption and Rescue Effort, or C.A.R.E., a nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter located in Ruskin.
Frequent visitors to the dog park are Michael Kaden with his dog, Rommel, and Amy Peters, with her golden retriever, Macky.
Ott’s travels to Haiti continue as his own private mission, which all began at a Rotary Club luncheon he attended in 2000, where the trip was offered as part of a church-sponsored mission.
“I signed up, thinking I’d go there to help animals, but once I got there and saw the condition of the people, my whole focus changed,” Ott said. After his first trip to the impoverished nation, Ott vowed he would continue to visit every year, bringing food, supplies, and educational opportunities, funded mostly out of his own pocket.
Ott’s daughter Diane accompanied her father on one trip, and found the experience life-changing. “It was heartbreaking,” she said, “but I also saw a contentment and joy I don’t see here in America. The Haitians live in shacks and have nothing, but they take delight in the smallest things, like just a handful of plastic beads.”
Diane has worked alongside her father at Ruskin Animal Hospital for 12 years, and calls her father “an inspiration.” Both father and daughter are looking forward to the Canine Carnival this weekend, as a chance to reconnect with friends in the community and raise money and awareness for a great cause.
All proceeds from the Canine Carnival will benefit Ott’s Off-Leash Sanctuary. For full sponsor and vendor information, visit the website at: ottsoffleashdogsanctuary.com or call the Ruskin Animal Hospital at 813-645-6411.
