Disclaimer: This Inside South Florida segment is sponsored by Panter, Panter and Sampedro P.A. All opinions and views are of the advertiser and does not reflect the same of WSFL-TV.
Tina is looking for her forever home.
The 2-year-old Carolina dog is available for adoption through the Humane Society of Broward County. Cherie Wachter of the Humane Society brought Tina into the studio this week to introduce her as the latest Pet of the Week, sponsored by Panter, Panter and San Pedro.
Tina weighs about 47 pounds, so there are no surprises ahead for her future family about how big she will get. She has a beautiful coat and striking blue eyes. Staff initially listed her as a different breed until a viewer wrote in to suggest she looked like a Carolina dog, a breed the shelter had not previously considered. After looking it up, Wachter said the match was clear.
Tina can be shy in the shelter environment, often sitting toward the back of her kennel and appearing aloof. But Wachter said her personality opens up outside of the kennel.
"Outside of the kennel they can be totally different," Wachter said.
Wachter said Tina was a pleasure to walk and showed no interest in pulling on the leash. She appears to be potty trained. Her comfort level with other pets is not yet known, but the shelter can arrange a meet and greet for families with dogs at home.
Wachter described Tina's ideal home as a family looking for a relaxed companion.
"If you're wanting to go for leisurely walk, she's your girl. She doesn't seem to be the type that needs to go for five miles a day. Leisurely walks, playtime. I think she'd love her own bed to snuggle in," Wachter said.
Prospective owners should also be prepared to brush Tina regularly, as she is shedding. Wachter noted that shedding can sometimes be a sign of nerves, and that Tina appeared to be warming up during her studio visit.
Wachter also used the segment to remind pet owners about the importance of microchipping their animals. While a collar tag is helpful, she said a microchip is a permanent source of identification that holds an owner's contact information.
"A tag is wonderful. Make sure your pet has a tag because a lot of lost pets end up in shelters with just a collar. No tag, but a microchip is really a permanent source that can contain your information," Wachter said.
Wachter noted that a microchip is not a GPS tracker, though owners can also use an AirTag or similar tracker for that purpose. For pets that are not yet microchipped, the shelter's vaccine clinic offers chipping services. Wachter also reminded owners whose pets are already chipped to make sure their registration information is current.
The Humane Society of Broward County is open seven days a week. Anyone interested in adopting Tina or another pet can visit HumaneBroward.com to fill out an application and stop by the shelter.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.