Join thousands of other animal lovers in your community to support the SPCA of Central Florida on Saturday, February 9, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. to Noon at Lake Eola in Downtown Orlando for the biggest and best FUN-raising pet walk in Central Florida!
This fun family event will have something for everyone. Kids can visit the new Disney Kids Zone plus amazing entertainment zone for the whole family. Enjoy the leisurely walk which raises money to find permanent homes for thousands of homeless animals and support the SPCA of Central Florida’s programs.
Enjoy pet related vendors, entertainment, raffles and more!
All donations received from “Mardi Paws” will go back to support the SPCA of Central Florida in their community programming, low cost medical facilities and finding loving permanent homes for thousands of animals!
When: Saturday, February 9, 2013
Where: Lake Eola, Downtown Orlando (corner of Robinson Street and Eola Drive)
Registration: 9:00 a.m.
Entertainment and Disney Kids Zone: 9:00 – Noon
Vendor Area: 9:00 – Noon
Walk Start: 10:30 a.m.
Self-parking can be found throughout Downtown Orlando. Parking infromation can be found at www.CityofOrlando.net and follow the ParkSmart link. The SPCA of Central Florida is not responsible for towed vehicles.
Things To Remember:
All pets must be at least 6 months old and have proof of vaccinations.
Dogs only please. No female dogs in heat.
Pets must wear a suitable collar.
Keep your dogs on a 6ft leash or shorter and under control at all times.
Water for dogs will be supplied.
Please be considerate and pick-up after your dog.
For the enjoyment and safety of all participants, we reserve the right to require any aggressive animal to leave the park.
Please obey all rules of beautiful Lake Eola. No swimming in the lake and no chasing the ducks or swans.
SeaWorld Orlando Animal Rescue Team Members, Kate Spicer and Janbel Green return a 75-pound loggerhead sea turtle to the waters of the Indian River Lagoon near Sebastian, Fla., where it was returned today.
SeaWorld Animal Rescue Team from Orlando traveled to the Indian River Lagoon near Sebastian, Fla., to return two sea turtles that the park received earlier this year. Both turtles were rescued from the Indian River Lagoon near Sebastian, Fla. By the Sea Turtle Preservation Society and brought to SeaWorld for rehabilitation and care.
One, a 75-pound loggerhead, came to SeaWorld in May with a large J-hook stuck in its throat. Upon arrival, the turtle received a health assessment, and it was determined that it had been living with the large hook in its throat for 4 years. SeaWorld Orlando’s Aquarium Team administered antibiotics and made sure the underweight turtle was eating normally and gaining weight before being approved for today’s return.
A smaller green sea turtle was also returned today. Extremely emaciated and lethargic upon arrival in September, the six-pound turtle received antibiotics and was monitored to ensure the tiny animal was gaining weight until being cleared for return today.
SeaWorld Orlando Animal Rescue Team Member, Janbel Green returns a six-pound green sea turtle into the waters of the Indian River Lagoon near Sebastian, Fla.
For more than 45 years, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment has helped animals in need — ill, injured and orphaned. More than 20,000 animals have been rescued by our experts. SeaWorld’s Animal Rescue team is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.So far in 2012, the SeaWorld Aquarium Team and SeaWorld Animal Rescue Team has rescued 35 turtles and returned 13.
I am a lucky girl because I tend to get a LOT of visitors now that I live here in Florida, and I hardly ever have to brave the epic cold of New Hampshire! My parents visit at least once a year and we always look for new and fun things to do when they do visit. While we usually have a day at Disney and we have also gone to Sea World, but this year I decided to take my parents to Gatorland! I have not been since I was a wee little mocha princess and figured my parents would get a kick out of it! Especially my father who is TOTALLY AFRAID of Alligators!
Gatorland is so much more than just alligators at a price that doesn’t put a strain on your vacation experience!
At 110- acres, Gatorland provides affordable-priced family fun with thousands of alligators & crocodiles to see, an aviary, breeding marsh with observation tower, petting zoo, nature walk, award-winning gift shop and one-of-a-kind reptilian shows including the Gator Wrestlin’ Show, Gator Jumparoo and the Up-close Encounters Show.
Take a ride on the Gatorland Express train and then head on over to Gator Gully Splash Park where kids of all ages can enjoy a good ol’ fashion squirtfest!
Don’t miss the new rare white alligators on display for a limited engagement at Gatorland’s newest exhibit, White Gator Swamp. Featuring four of the world’s largest white leucistic alligators known to roam the planet, these giant Ivory colored reptiles are each ten to twelve feet in length and weigh over 800 pounds. Their piercing blue eyes are believed to have the ability to command good fortune to those lucky enough to make eye contact with the blue eyed beauties.
So after a great family Breakfast at Cape May Cafe at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, it was time to head down Orange Blossom Trail to Gatorland!
We were right on time for the Gator Jumparoo Show. This was a total riot! We saw Rednecks throwing raw meat at Gators trying to get them to jump out of the water… what was there not to like?
We then got to feed the HUGE Turtles a snack. I am beyond amazed that I got to feed a thousand pound turtle some carrots! Dean was one of the most gentle creatures I have ever met but BOY was he strong! In fact, the whole family got to feed him and that was a total highlight!
We went down the walking path and saw the little habitats that had small rattler snakes, cobras, and other kinds of snakes. We were sad to learn that while we walked past the Bird Aviary was closed (side note: I was NOT sad.. I HATE BIRDS, they scare the bananas out of me) so we trucked along to see the white alligators THESE THINGS CREEP ME OUT! They are all white/yellow skinned and have bright blue eyes… totally creepy. They are from Louisiana and as far as I am concerned, they can stay there!
All over the property they have habitats housing some HUGE Gators that have come from all over the USA to live at Gatorland. With names like Toxic and their bios stating that they come from neighborhoods where they were known for eating lots of dogs, I can understand why they were housed in their own sections. These Gators are NO joke!!!!
Before we went into the Gator Trail, we stopped by the cart to buy our Gator Food (which was really hot dogs) so we could feed some gators!!!! When you start walking around the river you see a few gators here and there, but when you feed the first one that they all come out of the woodwork. These HUGE gators move so fast for just a piece of hot dog. I don’t doubt that they are well fed, but they LOVE them some hot dogs! Watching these 8 and 9 foot gators come across the pond quite fast and seeing them snap and bite about 5 feet down, if it was even that far, for a piece of hot dog….. it was almost like being on Survivor. My dad was a tosser of the pieces and I was more of a throw down at them, because they they would react and snap at each other and make noise 🙂 So awesome!
After feeding the Gators we took the train around the property towards the Gatorland Wrestlin’ show! We were lucky to catch the last show of the day, We saw the guy pin a gator down, hold im with just his chin 10 different ways and put a gator to sleep with the slightest touch! The best part was the end of the show when they asked if anyone in the audience wanted to sit on a gator and get their picture taken! My Husband James Threw up 10 bucks for my father to do it! The same Father who is deathly afraid of gators. My Dad did the big kid thing and went down and got in line. To listen to him tell the story he “Wrassled that 35 foot gator to the ground who weighted at LEAST 4500 pounds and held him down with his brute strength” In all actuality, he knelt over a 7 foot alligator whose mouth was taped shut and smiled for a camera. I am still proud of him!
After the show ended we walked towards the exit looking at all the pools of baby gators and some of their turtle friends while still being really sad that the bird habitat had closed for the day 😉 This was a THOROUGHLY enjoyable day at Gatorland and we didn’t even take advantage of everything Gatorland had to offer. We didn’t go to the petting zoo or the bird aviary or the splash park or the Zip Line Adventure. I would recommend a day at Gatorland to ANYONE who hasn’t been! Kids and Adults both will love it! Please check out their website www.Gatorland.com to take a look at their offerings and map. They also offer all sorts of education packages and even Birthday Parties!
A BIG HUGE Thanks to my Friend Stacey who treated my family and I to a day at Gatorland! We had a blast and will TOTALLY visit again!
