Miami, Florida. March 27,
2012— Over 150
walkers with their guide dogs, service animals and regular pet companions
pledged support for the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired to
raise awareness for the amazing work service animals provide to those who are in
need. The Miami Lighthouse held their fifth annual Walk, Waggle and Stroll Dog
Walk at the Shops at Midtown Miami on Sunday, March 25th. This year’s event was
hosted by Honorary ‘Dog’nitary Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman with
WPLG Channel 10’s Sasha Andrade as emcee.
“In addition to raising
much-needed funds for our programs at Miami Lighthouse, which provide
rehabilitation and vocational training to thousands of people every year, our
fifth annual Walk, Waggle and Stroll Dog Walk raised a great deal of awareness
for the presence of service animals in our community,” said Miami Lighthouse CEO
Virginia A. Jacko, who is blind and uses a dog guide named, Kieran. Special
recognition was given to Commissioner Sally Heyman and Carol Russo who conceived
the idea for the dog walk five years ago. Contest prizes for “cutest,”
“look-alike,” and “most talented dog,” were judged by Miami-Dade County Public
Defender Carlos Martinez, Chairman of Miami Lighthouse Board of Directors
Michael Silva, Board Director Lou Nostro and Dog Walk co-creator Carol Russo.
Also in attendance was Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez. Music and sound
engineering was provided by instructors in the Miami Lighthouse Better Chance
Music Production Program™.
The Miami Lighthouse Dog Walk was
sponsored by The Shops at Midtown Miami, Brickell Motors, Met Life, Miami-Dade
County Commissioner Sally Heyman, Gray Robinson, Banfield Pet Hospital, Frances
T. King Insurance Agency, Milton and Patricia Wallace, Rugsies Carpet &
Drapery Cleaning, BizSolutions, Britto, WPLG
Local 10, Susan Conroy Design, Absolute Graphics, Brooklyn Bagels, Fuze and
Miami Global Colombian Lions Club.
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