Blessing of the Pets set; CROW mourns ambassador, releases gallinule

The Cape Coral Animal Shelter is inviting the community to gather with the animals who hold a special place in their hearts for the 7th Annual Blessing of the Pets.

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“There is something incredibly moving about seeing people come together simply to celebrate how much their animals mean to them,” said Liz McCauley, executive director of CCAS. “Our pets are there for us through our happiest days and our hardest ones. They ask for so little and give us so much – love, loyalty, comfort, laughter and companionship. The Blessing of the Pets gives us a chance to pause and honor that bond. We hope families will bring the animals they love and share this very special afternoon with us.”

The event begins at 2p.m., Sunday, Oct. 4. This year’s celebration will be held under the Tiki at Wicked Dolphin Distillery, 131 SW 3rd Place, Cape Coral. Guests are encouraged to arrive beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Each pet will receive an individual blessing. Each participant will also receive a prayer card and a St. Francis medallion honoring the Patron Saint of Animals.

CCAS volunteers will provide baked goods.

All dogs must remain on a leash. No retractable leashes. Cats, critters, and other small pets should be safely secured in carriers.

Donations are encouraged, with proceeds supporting the work of CCAS. Since opening in March 2020, Cape Coral Animal Shelter has saved and placed more than 6,700 animals into loving homes.

CROW mourns snake ambassador

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife is mourning the loss of Cobb, a longtime corn snake animal ambassador who helped thousands of visitors learn more about snakes and the important role they play in Southwest Florida’s ecosystems.

Unlike the wildlife patients treated at CROW’s hospital, animal ambassadors are permanent residents who cannot be released into the wild. Through educational programs and public appearances, they give visitors an up-close look at native wildlife while helping dispel misconceptions and build appreciation for species that are often misunderstood.

For Cobb, that meant showing countless visitors and students that snakes are something to understand and respect – not fear.

Volunteers Jim Columbo and Merry Merryfield began working with CROW’s snake ambassadors in 2020 and formed a special bond with Cobb. Each week, they spend time providing the snakes with enrichment, including supervised opportunities to explore outdoors and experience new sights, scents, and surroundings.

“Cobb was a wonderful snake to work with and was especially good to handle because of his easy-going nature,” said Columbo. “We would take him out on the grass across from the parking lot and he loved to burrow into the tall grass or leaf litter to try and hide.  It was always a challenge to keep track of him because, with his coloration, he could disappear right before our eyes.  We will miss him.”

Cobb originally came to CROW from the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation in 2019. Because his early history was unknown, it was never determined whether he had been wild-caught or hatched in human care. What became certain, however, was that Cobb had found an important role at CROW.

Over the years, he became a familiar face – and favorite – among volunteers, staff and visitors.

Brittnay Laster, CROW’s Education and Outreach Coordinator, was Cobb’s primary caretaker during the past three years.

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“I have worked with nine different corn snakes,” says Laster. “That said, I can easily say that Cobb was the gentlest and friendliest of them all.”

For the past few weeks, Cobb had been fighting some health issues and was under the care of CROW’s veterinary staff. After trying various treatments, the team made the decision to help Cobb pass peacefully on Sept. 8.

To honor Cobb’s life and his years as an ambassador, CROW is inviting members of the community to share cards, photos and memories of him.

Cards can be sent to CROW, P.O. Box 150; Sanibel, FL 33957. Photos can be mailed or shared on social media with the tag @crowclinic and #crowcobb.

Cards will be placed near Cobb’s enclosure as a memorial in the nonprofit Visitor Education Center.

To learn more about Animal Ambassadors at CROW, visit crowclinic.org.

CROW releases rehabilitated gallinule back into the wild

A juvenile common gallinule that came to the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife on Sanibel Island as a chick with a severe eye infection in May has been released back into the yard where it was originally found.

Fort Myers resident Joyce Stefano rescued the bird, along with three of its siblings. While they all suffered an eye infection that was obscuring their vision, there was one that unfortunately did not survive, and one with a persistent infection that took longer to heal.

On Aug 24, the last of these siblings at CROW had grown into a healthy, fully flighted juvenile believed to be capable of surviving independently in the wild.

Stefano was present for all of the Common Gallinule sibling releases in Fort Myers.

“I had a wonderful experience letting the rehabbed birds go,” said Stefano. “I’m so happy … (CROW) brought them back all healed up!”

Juvenile common gallinules are commonly found around freshwater marshes, ponds and wetlands, where they swim among reeds and aquatic plants. Community members who find injured or sick wildlife are encouraged to call CROW at 239-472-3644 ext. 222. Learn more at crowclinic.org.

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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Blessing of the Pets set; CROW mourns ambassador, releases gallinule

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Reporting by Will Watts, Special to the News-Press / Fort Myers News-Press

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

This story was originally published September 20, 2026 at 5:08 AM.