{"id":60913,"date":"2025-11-14T01:08:15","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T06:08:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/?p=60913"},"modified":"2025-11-14T01:08:30","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T06:08:30","slug":"golden-retriever-rescue-of-southwest-florida-will-host-goldenfest-xv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/2025\/11\/golden-retriever-rescue-of-southwest-florida-will-host-goldenfest-xv\/","title":{"rendered":"Golden Retriever Rescue of Southwest Florida will host GoldenFest XV"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Golden Retriever Rescue of Southwest Florida will host GoldenFest XV from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Lee Health Sports Complex – Hammond Stadium, 14100 6 Mile Cypress Pkwy., Fort Myers. Open to well-behaved leashed dogs of all breeds, the event includes vendors, a huge raffle, live music, other entertainment and tasty fare. For details: www.grrswf.org<\/a>, info@grrswf.org<\/a> or 239-369-0415. <\/p>\n\n\n

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IF YOU GO<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What: GoldenFest XV<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where: Lee Health Sports Complex – Hammond Stadium, 14100 6 Mile Cypress Pkwy., Fort Myers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cost: Free<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Info: www.grrswf.org\/goldenfest<\/a>, info@grrswf.org<\/a> or 239-369-0415. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The most golden day of the year is coming up at the Lee Health Sports Complex – Hammond Stadium. GoldenFest XV, hosted by Golden Retriever Rescue of Southwest Florida, is set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event draws hundreds of participants, many of them with canine companions. GoldenFest includes goldens galore, plus law enforcement K-9s, live music, food and drink, product and service vendors, pictures with Santa, a face painter, a caricature artist, raffles, a silent auction, a rescue alumni tent, first responder exhibits and the Calendar Girls dance troupe.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGoldenFest is the largest dog-focused event of the year in Southwest Florida,\u201d said GRRSWF President and GoldenFest XV manager Dennis Guyitt. \u201cThis year it is bigger than ever, with new and returning activities for dogs, their humans and kids. We\u2019ll have fan-favorites like dock diving and agility demonstrations, live music, first responders, over 100 vendors, even a Golden Petting Corral, plus much more. It\u2019s a day like no other for dog lovers.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cGoldenFest is not only the largest animal-related event in our community, it is also an absolute blast! There will be a sea of goldens and plenty of wet kisses, so please come and enjoy a free, fun-filled, golden day with your best friend, your family and your kids. It promises to be unforgettable,\u201d added Cliff Smith, chairman of the GRRSWF Fundraising Committee.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event is open to other nonprofit rescue organizations, area shelters and humane societies at no cost. GoldenFest doesn\u2019t just unite dog lovers in the community. It also serves as the primary fundraiser for the organization, which was founded in 2009 and has rescued more than 1,400 dogs. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the eyes of a golden retriever awaiting rescue, we see not just a dog, but a life teetering on the edge of despair, abandoned, surrendered or shelter-bound, facing euthanasia or the cruelty of unfit hands,\u201d said Alesia Galuppo, the rescue\u2019s founder and vice president. \u201cOur mission is their lifeline: We embrace them fully, healing every emotional wound and meeting every medical need, no matter the cost, until we place them in their loving, perfect forever home. Because every dog deserves a second chance, and in saving them, we restore faith in humanity\u2019s heart.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sponsors are: Enterprise Mobility, Subaru of Fort Myers, Wild Blue Charitable Neighbors, Cameo of Lee County, Kiwanis Club of Cape Coral, Kingfisher Real Estate, Fabri-Tech, Speaking of Pets Podcast, Hancock Animal Hospital, Hollywood Feed, Duckberry Designs, Florida Restoration, FETCH Specialty and Emergency Veterinary Centers, Tommy\u2019s Express Car Wash, Deck the Paws, Bay Street Yard,  LCEC, United Way Beesley\u2019s Pawprints, Flight Fast Track, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, Sun Harvest Citrus, FineMark National Bank and Trust, Wintrust Bank, Blue Pearl Pet Hospital, Scent Hound, Florida Blue Medicare, Naples Feng Shui, Scoop Soldiers, Aussie Pet Mobile, Visionary Vet Services, Advanced Physical Therapy of Venice, Local Anonymous Family Foundation, The Burruss Foundation, Gunterberg Charitable Foundation – Brotherhood of Heroes, Leslie Alexander Foundation, Liz and Jack Donehower, Barbara J. Siebert, David and Linda Lucas, Susan Matthews, Margaret Manda, Stacy and John Berteau, John Rushing and Chris Curshellas, Tim Auman & Edward Jones,  Jeff Cull & Ella Nayor, Roxanne & Cliff Smith, Lee County Sheriff\u2019s Office, Lee County, Gulfcoast News, Bratty Paws, South Trail Fire Department, Backyard and Tap, Becky Lappin, and The Breeze Newspapers. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All breeds of well-mannered, leashed dogs \u2014 especially golden retrievers \u2014 are invited to attend with their owners. Admission and parking are free. There will be wading pools, treats, tennis balls and water for the dogs. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For more information, visit https:\/\/grrswf.org\/goldenfest<\/a>, email info@grrswf.org<\/a> or call 239-369-0415.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Golden Retriever Rescue of Southwest Florida will host GoldenFest XV from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Lee Health Sports Complex – Hammond Stadium, 14100 6 Mile Cypress… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":60914,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[57,32],"tags":[3201],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60913"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60913"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60913\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60919,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60913\/revisions\/60919"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/60914"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60913"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60913"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60913"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}