Date : 06-09-2010

Boca Raton, FL - June 10, 2010 - Winston Churchill said that we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. Last night, the people of Boca Raton came out in droves to make the Divas, Doggies and Dining Charity Event at Royal Palm Place a barkalicious success! Their motivation? Simple but gripping&compassion for animals and an understanding that these precious creatures have a brain&they experience fear and are totally dependent upon humans. This special inaugural event featured Animal Aid, a local 501(C)3 non-profit dedicated to the welfare of stray animals and to a reduction in the overpopulation problem through spay/neuter and education efforts. Their no-kill shelter takes in emergency, abuse and neglect cases as well as dogs and cats from various high-kill animal control facilities, and they survive completely on donations. The program includes vaccinations, Aids/Leukemia testing, recovery & release, foster homes, medical care, and an adoption program. Animal Aid even brought some of their adoptable dogs to the event, in the hopes of finding them new homes.

Tamera Gibson, Managing Director of Animal Aid, spends hours each day trying to find adoptive homes for not only the animals she has rescued but those in shelters she knows are about to be put down. She is their advocate and their protector. As a result of the generosity of the attendees, participants and sponsors, Animal Aid was even able to raise enough money to pay for the bladder stones surgery an adorable white Pekingese had needed. Tamera was quoted as saying What a great event you all planned&very impressive&I can't thank you enough! That was just what we needed to pay for Maxie's surgery! And, on top of that, we received a lot of interest in our adoptable dogs and recruited some new volunteers. 

Dogs of all shapes, sizes and colors were in attendance, accompanied by their devoted parents, and participated in a variety of activities including a fashion show, blueberry facials, massages, lessons on pet CPR, Bark Mitzvahs, and Blessings of the Dogs.

Participants and sponsors included Camp Canine, La Bodega Tapas y Tintos, 4th Generation Organic Market, Paradise Pets, Pawsitively Gourmet, Beaddazzled, The Haute Hound, Pet Pee Pee, Your Pet's Crib, Dog Massage by Hope, Bedner's Farm Fresh Market, Bark Busters, Animal Awareness, Pawsch, Bow Wow Meow & More, Global Enterprises, Father Frank (Blessing of the Dogs), Rabbi Frank (Bark Mitzvahs), Girlie Girl Dogz Boutique, End Canine Cancer, David Lerner, Happy Paws Pet Expo, Dogs Go Walking, On Bark Avenue, Epkin, Dog Watch of Palm Beach, Club BowWow, Pet Guardian, Pet Butler, Cynthia Segal (animal communicator), Robin White (pet oil paintings), Hanna's Houses, Puttin' on the Dog and HaveDog.com. The Deborah Paiva Trio entertained the audience with some fabulous smooth jazz, and even had a few people dancing in the street; yes, some of the dogs were dancing, too!

Kristen Birstok, of Girlie Girl Dogz, said We wanted to thank you for inviting us&Very well put together&we will be doing more pet events and would love to be invited to your future events. Feel free to contact us anytime! Dont worry, Kristen, based on all the feedback Royal Palm Place has already received in the last 24 hours, theyll be contacting you and a lot of other wonderful supporters very soon.