The Biltmore Hotel will open its doors to the dogs of Miami on Sunday, Mar. 9, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., in the Country Club Ballroom.
“A Brunch of Us Are Getting Together,” is an event to benefit Pets’ Trust Miami: a grass roots initiative to stop the killing at Miami-Dade Animal Services. Thousands of adoptable pets are euthanized every year at that facility alone.
The problem is overpopulation and the solution is low cost/free spay/neuter clinics to significantly lower the number of abandoned animals. There are over 400,000 feral, free roaming cats in the county. These cats multiply exponentially and because there is not capacity to do enough surgeries, they will continue to grow creating possible health issues for people.
The Humane Society of the United States did a study in the southern part of Miami-Dade County and has called Homestead as one of the most horrific and neediest areas in the United States for abandoned dogs and cats.
In 2012, when the citizens of the county were educated about this issue, almost 500,000, 65 percent of the voters, voted to add a small tax — around $14 per year for the average household — to open clinics and perform the necessary 75,000-100,000 surgeries annually needed to get to the root of the problem.
However, elected officials chose to ignore those votes, and the voters, and did not listen to the will of the people.
Animal Brunch at the Biltmore Hotel will be a spectacular event featuring five-star restaurants, including The Crepemaker, serving gourmet food. Delicious desserts will be catered by You Oughta’ Taste My Mama’s Cakes. The four-legged guests will receive a gourmet meal catered by Laly of Doggie Bag Café fame. Roasters ‘n’ Toasters will be bringing their scrumptious bagels.
The emcees will be Eliot Rodriguez from Channel 4 and Ron Magill of Zoo Miami. Both have a passion for animals and an extreme desire to help their community with this issue.
There will be a doggie fashion show presented by G Girl productions as well as “couples” massages for you and your pet provided by Hand and Stone Massage. A vast array of pet friendly vendors including Doggie Designs by Diane with haute couture for your pet and Jacqueline Douli pet photographer extraordinaire, who can capture the love of your life on film. Williamson Cadillac will be on hand to show you the latest in fine automotive engineering. They are strong animal supporters and continue to help us through their sponsorship.
It wouldn’t be a pet event without the rescues. It will have several local ones including Coastal Boxer Rescue, 600 Million Dog Rescue and One by One Rescue with loving animals up for adoption. This is what it is all about. Beautiful adoptable pets looking for their forever, loving homes. Maybe this is the time to get Fido a buddy to play with while you’re at work.
For sponsorship opportunities or tickets call 305-491-5651 or go to the website to purchase tickets at www.petsvoice.org. Tickets are $25 each online or $35 at the door.
