Balasky Animal Hospital

09/15/2026

Happy Monday! We'd like to kick the week off introducing you to Hollywood Fire Rescue's Justin Martinez and our boy Pepsi!

Inspired by the Paws & Protectors collaboration with Cooper City BSO, Broward County Animal Care has extended this heartwarming endeavor of pairing our adoptable pets with the first responders and personnel at Hollywood Fire Rescue!

Justin Martinez is a Driver Engineer and Firefighter with Hollywood Fire Rescue with 10 years of service. As a Driver Engineer, he operates and maintains fire apparatus while supporting his crew during emergency responses. Prior to working at Hollywood Fire, Justin served as a U.S. Army Combat Medic, bringing extensive medical and emergency response experience to his role.

🐶 Meet Pepsi!
A2458401 | 2 Years old, Neutered Male
American Staffordshire Terrier Mix | 62lbs

Like his name, Pepsi is sweet bubbly fun! With being a little over 60lbs Pepsi is a solid guy for his stature and he is quite affectionate and playful. Pepsi has shown to be social with other dogs, enjoying playing rough and rowdy with other dogs his size. Pepsi is also a Broward Buddies favorite; he receives excellent notes on his outings, regularly described as very sweet and well behaved. After over 5 months of living the shelter life, Pepsi would love a second chance in a home of his own!

❤️ Interested in adopting Pepsi?
Drop by Broward County Animal Care and ask to meet him! Animal Care is open for pet adoption 7 days a week from 11am-6pm.

🔁 Unable to adopt?
You can still make a difference! One share could help Pepsi find the forever home he’s been waiting for!

09/13/2026

08/23/2026

When we, as humans, live with other people (a significant other, a roommate, a family member, etc) we have the option and the ability to LEAVE the house, any time we want. We leave to go to work, visit friends, partake in activities, exercise, etc. And even if someone doesn’t have a car, they can still step outside and walk somewhere. By choice, if they need a break they can leave.

When our dogs live with other dogs, they cannot.

If they get frustrated, stressed, or upset with one another, they can’t just step outside and walk themselves somewhere, go for a drive, or blow off steam at the gym. They are stuck.

And THIS is why it’s so important to have individual confinement spaces AND designated time away from each other EVERY day, when you have a multi dog household.

In the “wild” there is plenty of space to regulate emotions around social situations. In our homes, there is not. We need to give our dogs breaks from one another so that way they don’t feel the need to act out with inappropriate behaviors towards each other, or worse, displays of aggression. Altar their daily routines before they try to altar it themselves.

Prevention in maintaining healthy relationships between housemates can go a long way.