For five years, Waddles led a charmed life. The 300-pound pig lived with a family in Seminole where he slurped watermelon and got plenty of belly rubs.
When the family could no longer care for him, they sent Waddles to the SPCA Tampa Bay — where they thought he'd be safe.
Instead, he spent two weeks baking in the July sun. Blisters blanketed most of Waddles’ body. He was severely dehydrated, depressed and near death.
Pinellas County charged the agency that's supposed to prevent cruelty to animals with animal cruelty.
On Wednesday, the case goes to trial. If a judge finds the SPCA guilty, it could lose its license and have to shut down.
Millions of supporters from around the world have weighed in on social media. People plan to pack the court, demanding justice.
Do you love animals? Are you between the ages of 3 and 10? We would love to see your drawing of Waddles, with a chance to win a prize! Here's how to enter.
AROUND THE BAY
727 Day! Pinellas pride is celebrated for the fourth consecutive year with an unofficial county holiday. Here's a few ideas to celebrate.
"Beyond frustrating": Some city council members are “intent on killing” the Rays stadium plan, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said.
Adopted a moratorium: Pasco is one of the latest Florida counties to hit pause on new data centers while trying to figure out how to regulate an industry that's growing too fast for government rules to keep up with.
Scheduled to vote: New College of Florida officials are seeking to dissolve the college’s alumni association, a group that has criticized the school’s conservative overhaul.
A nearly 400-acre solar farm could be coming to land near the Hillsborough/Manatee county line. Here’s what to know about the plans from Tampa Electric.
New courthouse? The aged and outdated Courthouse Annex, which serves as the venue for most criminal court matters in Hillsborough County, has long needed to be replaced. One county plan showed what a new courthouse could look like.
Same-day executions challenged: Two Florida prisoners scheduled to be put to death Tuesday filed a joint federal appeal arguing that the same-day executions risk being botched.
Begged for an end: A St. Pete man was ready to plead guilty in exchange for life in prison for the 2021 killings of three family members and a friend. Prosecutors said no.
St. Pete is in the middle of a cocktail renaissance, and The Winfield is the hottest new contender in town, writes senior food and dining critic Helen Freund. The swanky subterranean addition to the Central Park St. Pete food hall sports elegant vibes in a jewel box-like setting with just 22 seats and an envelope-pushing beverage program. Read her first-look review here.
Howard & Platt just opened on South Howard Avenue in a building that once housed T.C. Choy’s Asian Bistro. Weekend brunch begins in August.
How much does it matter? You knew the Rays stadium plan was not going to be approved without intrigue, writes sports columnist John Romano. Now, the Tampa City Council appears to be at odds with the team, and the Rays are prepared to bypass the city and deal exclusively with Hillsborough County.
"I can retire now": Yandy Diaz became the fourth player in Rays history to reach 1,000 hits with the franchise.
⚽: Tampa Bay area soccer fans found a remedy for their World Cup withdrawal Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium. See a gallery of photos here.
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Dive deep every weekday into all things Bucs, Rays, Lightning, USF and more with award-winning Times journalist Rick Stroud. If it’s major Tampa Bay sports news, he’s talking about it.
The Wild West: The newest addition to Tampa Bay’s canon of shameful viral videos involves Charles Hoffman, who brandished a gun at three men canvassing a neighborhood near Gulfport in June. The men were looking to wash windows and detail cars. Columnist Stephanie Hayes says law enforcement and lawmakers in Florida did nothing to secure the safety of these men. They had to do it all themselves.
