- April 8, 2026
-
-
Loading
Loading
River Club’s Heidi Leto and her 7-year-old German shepherd and boxer mix, Lucy, have a special bond.
Lucy is used to being at home with Leto, and when sees a suitcase out in the open, she knows what that means.
Leto knows Lucy gets overwhelmed when she goes on a trip, so she puts lots of thought into where Lucy will stay.
She has canceled a weekend trip when her parents couldn't watch Lucy for fear the dog wouldn't eat all weekend.
“Lucy will come to humans before she goes to dogs,” Leto said. “She's a people person. My son is 24 and lives in another state, so Lucy literally is like my child.”
Leto is a member of Dogs of Lakewood Ranch, a club founded by Savanna’s Ana Goesch in 2020. Goesch wanted to connect dog lovers.
Goesch said the point of the group is to give referrals and advice. It helps people find lost animals and it can help to re-home animals as well.
Leto found a semi-retired couple, Leann and Kevin O’Neal, who are now her dog sitters through the group. They don’t currently have any dogs of their own and they sit one dog at a time. They send photo updates to the owners.
Leann O’Neal said she always looks forward to hosting “one very special client.”
“Lucy is such a loving dog — she enjoys our walks together and loves curling up to sleep in our bed,” O’Neal said. “Caring for her has been such a joy and over time her owner, Heidi, has become a dear friend of mine.”
“I honestly don’t know who I would have found to watch my dog if it wasn’t for the Facebook page,” Leto said. “I will not put Lucy in a kennel. I check with (the O'Neals) before making vacation plans.”
Savanna’s Mark Turner has a 10-year-old miniature poodle, Bailey. He has had her since she was 8 weeks old. Turner loves being part of the group to get recommendations for local vets and groomers as Bailey is getting older. Although Bailey isn’t one for hanging out with other dogs, she is a big fan of Turner.
“Everywhere I go in the house, she’s got to be right next to me,” Turner said. “I go outside for some yard work for half an hour. I walk in the door, she's right there at the door waiting for me.”
Goesch has two dogs — a 4-year-old Golden retriever, Maple, and a 9-year-old miniature Australian shepherd, Skylar.
"Maple and Skylar bring so much joy, comfort and balance into my life," Goesch said. "Maple is full of personality and energy, always keeping things fun and light. Skylar has such a special, gentle soul, and she’s taught me a lot about patience, resilience, and appreciating the small moments. They’re not just pets. They’re truly are part of my family."
One of Goesch’s main goals of Dogs of Lakewood Ranch is to host more dog meet-ups. They have had them a couple of times and she gets asked frequently by members to have more. The problem is, Goesch is searching for venues that can accommodate both people and dogs without requiring any sort of membership.
"Meet-ups are great because they allow dogs to socialize, burn energy and build confidence," Goesch said. "For owners, it’s just as valuable, it creates a sense of community and support. It’s not just about the dogs playing, it’s about people connecting, sharing experiences and feeling like they’re part of something."
