160 Pets recognized on April 11 National Pet Day
WATCH: One hundred sixty pets are recognized on April 11, which is National Pet Day. The Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson reached out to people around the area and received pictures from more than one hundred pet owners.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Many of us “own” pets. Many don’t. I use the word “own” for lack of a better word. We don’t own our pets, often they own us! If you have a pet, you know what I mean. Pets can be part of your family, a big part.
They have been known not to leave the side of an owner that is battling an illness or disease. They are intuitive.
Regardless of the type of pet you have, it is easy to fall in love with them. A lot of people are either dog lovers or cat lovers. I have owned both and love them equally.
In 2005, April 11 was declared National Pet Day. To recognize National Pet Day, I contacted multiple people around the area and asked them to send me a picture of their pet.
I received beautiful pictures of dogs and cats, along with chickens, horses and even a pig!
National Pet Day was founded in 2005 by Colleen Paige, a celebrity pet lifestyle and animal welfare advocate.
Some of our pets have passed on. You will find a special section at the end of the video with those who are no longer with us. This does not mean they are forgotten; they are just gone.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia. He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.
Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020, Ecofest Achievement Award – 2022, Quality Floridian Award – 2022, presented by U.S. Congressman Bill Posey.
Wilson is especially proud of his chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock that raised over $25,000.00.
He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 25 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.
The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.
