Hello, everyone. This weekend is the weekend that I’ve been waiting for! It’s the 2nd annual Go Dog Go 5K run, sponsored by the Southeast Volusia Humane Society. This year, the 5K run will be on the beach! Registration will begin at 7 a.m. at the Flagler Avenue parking lot in New Smyrna Beach. Don’t worry if you haven’t registered yet. You can register when you get there. The race starts at 8 a.m. It will be a low-tide 5K run on the beach and I’m told there are many runners already signed up and ready to go.
If running isn’t your thing, you can sign up for the ½ mile dog dash and fun walk. It will begin at 8:45 a.m. and LUV, the big black and white mascot for the shelter will lead you down Flagler Avenue, to Silly Willies (one of my favorite places to be) and then back to the beach. There will be lots of fun and excitement along the way because Flagler Avenue will also be having their monthly Art Walk. There’s just going to be so much to see and do and you’re not going to want to miss a moment of it.
Each year the Southeast Volusia Humane Society works very hard at raising money to help care for the many unwanted dogs and cats in this area. Fund-raisers like this one is so important because it keeps the employees and volunteers doing what they love to do, take care of those fur kids. You can help by coming down and supporting this event. If you don’t feel like running or walking, just bring a chair and watch the fun and exciting activities. Hopefully the weather will hold out and it will be nice and dry. Rain or shine, plan to join me on Flagler Avenue Beach ramp on Saturday, Jan. 23, at 7 a.m.
Mark your calendars, also, for Saturday, Feb. 6, starting at 1 p.m. SEVHS will also be teaming up with the Canal Street Historical District for their 2nd annual Mardi Gras pet parade. This year, the theme is “Paws on Parade” – A Mardi Gras celebration. Dogs and owners will come dressed in Mardi Gras attire and walk the parade, which will lead down Orange Ave to Canal St, and then east to Sams. There will be a stage with judging area and bleachers where lots of wonderful prizes will be given out to the best costumes. Owners don’t have to dress up with their dogs because there will be lots of different categories for judging. Bring your chair and line up Canal Street and celebrate and support the parade as it passes by!
You can register for the parade on the day of the event, or if you would like information on registration, just drop me an e-mail.
Folks, whether it’s Go Dog Go or Paws on Parade, I hope to see you out there as we help the Southeast Volusia Humane Society start off a banner year of fund-raising to help those well deserving dogs and cats!
I’ll see you there!

Mango, a rescued pet, is the inspiration for this column by Debi Laibe. Send any questions or comments to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it