Floridians with 'animal instincts'

Bob Reina
Founder/CEO, Talk Fusion - Brandon (Hillsborough County)

Reina adopted Bindi, who had been attacked by an alligator. [Photo: Gen Yamaguchi/Tampa Bay Times]

The success of Bob Reina’s video communications company has allowed him to give back. He sits on the board of directors of the Humane Society of Tampa Bay and has been recognized locally and worldwide for his dedication to helping animals find homes, increasing donations to the Humane Society and various animal rescues and lowering euthanasia rates. Recently, Reina pledged $1 million — the largest single donation in the Humane Society’s 100-year history — to fund the building of the Talk Fusion Animal Health Center, a veterinary services facility to provide low-cost full-service animal health care.

» The beginning: “My first chance at helping spread the word came in 2008, when I rescued my dog Bindi from Hillsborough County Animal Services,” he says. “She was a stray horribly injured by an alligator. I paid for the lifesaving amputation of her front leg and a heartworm treatment, then I adopted her. As I was going through Bindi’s recovery at animal services, I saw dogs sprawled on concrete kennel pads at the Hillsborough County animal shelter. The situation inspired me to help those animals, too.”

» Initiatives: Donated more than 300 beds to Hillsborough County Animal Services, $60,000 to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay to build an 18-pen enclosure for older dogs, and created a marketing program for Hillsborough County Animal Services.

Reina pledged $1 million for the Talk Fusion Animal Health Center in Tampa.