The Walk is a fundraiser for the animals. We depend on the proceeds of the Walk to care for the thousands of animals that will come through doors of shelters and rescues this year. We ask that you do raise money in order to attend the Walk. You can also make a personal donation.

There isn’t a minimum, but $25 is suggested. If you do not raise money, a personal donation is suggested.

Yes! You can raise money through the webpage, and also receive cash/checks as well.

You can either register a second time at the Walk and complete a second registration form with the additional money (please note that it’s your second form), or, mail it in after the event to: Attn: Walk 4 Animals, Parks & Rec. Dept., City of Leesburg, PO Box 490630, Leesburg, Florida 34749

If you receive pledges after the Walk, please mail them to: Attn: Walk 4 Animals, Parks & Rec. Dept., City of Leesburg, PO Box 490630, Leesburg, Florida 34749; including a note with your name, address, and request to add the donations to your walk total. All check and credit card donations will be thanked automatically.

Please note that all donors who provide an email address will be automatically thanked by Walk 4 Animals volunteers.

Yes! We have many people who attend the Walk and leave their pets at home. If you don’t have a pet, or you feel the Walk may be stressful for your pet, please leave your pet at home.

No. We don’t want to create additional stress for our shelter animals and want them to be available for adoption.

If you received any cash or check donations, please bring them to the Walk. Also, please bring any matching gift forms.

This year’s Walk 4 Animals begins at 8:30 am. The walk is approximately one mile but you can turn around at any time.

This is our first annual Walk 4 Animals and it will be too difficult to accommodate large animals now. However, if you do wish to bring them on the walk, please contact us and we will see about including them next year.

No. All children must be under direct adult supervision at all times at the Walk.

The Walk will be held- rain or shine!

No, we request for liability reasons that you carry your personal items with you, or lock these items in the trunk of your car for safekeeping.

Early Registration: if you’ve raised $100 or more, you can register early on Friday, October 15th at the site of the walk between 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Collect your premiums in advance to wear on walk day, and no standing in lines!

If you do not raise $100 or more or if you cannot register Friday night, you can register Saturday, October 16th at 8:00 a.m.

There will be plenty of free parking at Ski Beach. Ski Beach is the large open area across the bay, along Lakeshore Drive, where the sand volleyball courts are located.

Start & End Times: Registration will be open from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. with the actual walk beginning at 9:00 a.m. However, walkers can come and walk throughout the morning on their own, and then stay to enjoy the many vendors and games we have until 1:00 p.m.

Walk Route: The walk will begin on Ski Beach in Venetian Gardens (this is where all of the vendors will be located, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies). The walk will go along Lakeshore Drive, to 9th Street, along Boylston Street and back to Ski Beach via Washington Avenue. The walk is approximately 1 mile, but you can turn around at any point to shorten the Walk for either you, or your pets’ needs.

Yes you can! You can raise money for the Walk and if you are not able to attend the day of, come to early registration on Friday, October 9th; or mail in your pledges to Attn: Walk 4 Animals, Parks & Rec. Dept., City of Leesburg, P.O. Box 490630, Leesburg, Florida 34749.

2 or more people make up a team.

There are 3 team types: Friends/Family Team, Corporate Team, and Vet Teams.

All Teams - Corporate, Vet and Friends & Family teams will be directed to register in the new Team Tent where you will fill out your registration forms, turn in your pledges and collect your premiums.

You will receive premiums based upon what you raised as an individual at the time you register, even though you are part of a team.

Your team captain will need to determine where to direct those funds at the time of registration. They can either be added to an individual walker's registration or pooled together to receive premiums as a team (see below).

Your team can choose to collect the premiums through the level the team has earned together and divide the items amongst yourselves. With the help of a Walk 4 Animals volunteer you may also configure an appropriate distribution of your total team’s funds raised vs. the number of team members, for possible premium options. We are not able to provide more premium items to team members than reflects monies raised by your team, but will work within your team total and number of members to find an equitable disbursement. We ask that all members of the team wishing to pool funds together arrive to registration at the same time.

Examples:

A team raises $500 and there are 2 people on the team: The team can collect a full set of premiums at the $500 level (1 bandana, 1 t-shirt, 1 bag recycler/tote bag & 1 sweatshirt), or, the total can be divided to the $250 level and each member receives a bandana, t-shirt and 1 bag recycler/tote bag.

A team raises $500 and there are 4 people on the team: The team can collect a full set of premiums at the $500 level (1 bandana, 1 t-shirt, 1 bag recycler/tote bag and 1 sweatshirt), or, the total can be divided by 4 at $125 and each member receives a set of premiums at the $100 level (bandana and t-shirt).

A team of 20 raise $500: The team can collect a full set of premiums (1 bandana, 1 t-shirt, 1 bag recycler/tote bag & 1 sweatshirt), but as $500 divided by 20 is $25 and that is not a premium level, some equitable solution could be negotiated, possibly 10 bandana’s at the $50 level, which may mean not all team members will receive something.

A team of 3 raise $750: The team can collect a full set of premiums at the $750 level (1 bandana, 1 t-shirt, 1 bag recycler/tote bag & 1 sweatshirt).

A team of 7 raise $1,000: The team could receive a fullest of premiums (1 bandana, 1 t-shirt, 1 bag recycler/tote bag, 1 sweatshirt & 1 picnic backpack), or, 7 sets of premiums at the $100 level (7 bandanas & 7 t-shirts).

You will find a variety of food and beverage vendors at Venetian Gardens. Water for pets is available all around the grounds the day of the Walk and there will be a water stop along the Walk Route with free water for pets and their humans. Of course your companion pooch can always pick up a treat in our Doggy Midway by participating in one of many canine games - everyone's a winner at the Walk 4 Animals!