VCA Walk For The Animals A Howling Success

South Florida Sun Times

Feb 27, 2025

Thousands of participants both human and four-legged turned out for the VCA Walk for the Animals on February 1st at Fort Lauderdale’s Las Olas Intracoastal Promenade Park. Benefiting the Humane Society of Broward County and now in its 35th year, the Walk continues to be the shelter’s largest fundraiser.

The Top Three Individual Fundraisers on Walk day were Laura Hogle with an astounding $30,675.30; Tim Miller with $15,965; and Dayle Fragin with $15,642.60. In the team category, dubbed “Packs,” there was a record set this year by PAWS with their $89,607.08 earning them “Leader of the Packs” status on Walk-day. In second place was Teachers’ Pets with $39,955.09, followed by Stilish Paws with $31,275.81. A total of 109 Packs participated. Many donations have come in after the event, propelling the Walk to raise $524,712! Donations are still being accepted until March 31st, 2025 at: www.walk4theanimals.com

Besides the one-mile walk itself, the morning offered plenty for both people and their dogs, with 32 sponsor booths offering all sorts of goodies, free bagels, fruit, and fresh donuts. Music was provided by DJ Marky Mark; emceeing it all were Local 10’s Animal Advocate Jacey Birch, along with Easy 93.1’s Bobby Mitchell and Nikki, and Hits 97.3’s Jade Alexander and Martica Lopez. More than 100 volunteers helped shelter staff to keep things flowing smoothly, and a videographer and photographers captured the fun. There was even an online auction, which raised over $4,400 for the bottom line.

Sponsors supporting the VCA Walk for the Animals were: VCA Animal Hospitals, Purina, Tidy Cats, Subaru of Pembroke Pines, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, JM Family Enterprises, Inc., Blakeley Law Firm, PetMeds, Fetch Pet Insurance, Southwest Plumbing Services Inc., RealRes, RKD Group, Tropical Financial Credit Union, Dental Fresh, Zoom Zoom AC, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, Riverland Apartments, Paychex, SUN Credit Union, Veterinary Eye Institute Deerfield Beach, Chase Roofing, Antinol®Plus, K9 Resorts, Animal Cancer Care Clinic, Hounds Town, Coldwell Banker Realty, Alzoo, Haulin' Assets, Scenthound, Broward Health, WPLG Local 10, Cox Media Group, 99 JAMZ, Hits 97.3, Easy 93.1, Hot 105, Mobile Mike Public Relations, Trueba Media, Content Factory, Tropical Acres Steakhouse, Starbucks, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Brooklyn Water Bagels, Bagels & Co, Marando Farms & Ranch, DonutNV, Beach Place, and Stiles Property Management.

The Humane Society of Broward County is a private, Non-Profit Organization that is not affiliated with any local or national organization with a similar name. The shelter has one location at 2070 Griffin Road, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312 and offers pet adoption, low-cost vaccine clinics, educational opportunities, camp programs, pet loss and grieving support groups and so much more.

To learn more and see pets available for adoption, visit: www.humanebroward.com

Top Fundraisers Dayle Fragin raised $15,642.60, and Laura Hogle raised $30,675.30.

PAWS Pack Leader Luisa Cook (far right) was thrilled that the PAWS pack raised an astounding $89,607.08 – a new record!

HSBC’s Education VP Caroline Crane (second from left) led her pack Teachers’ Pets to second place with $39,955.09.

Stilish Paws, led by Jamie Stiles, left, raised $31,275.81 to claim third place.

Hits 97.3 Jade Alexander and Martica Lopez emceed and made many new four-legged friends.

Debra Cahill has participated in ALL 35 Walk for the Animals fundraisers, raising many thousands of dollars for the shelter animals over the years.