Miami Beach Hosts Halloween-Themed Yappy Hour

Miami Beach, FL – Dress up your four-legged fur baby and join your neighbors for a costume party unlike any other when the City of Miami Beach hosts its annual Yappy Hour celebration on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 5-7 p.m. at Flamingo Park.

“Let’s raise a paw for our furry friends while we protect our precious waters,” shared Miami Beach Vice Mayor Alex Fernandez. “The message behind this fun event is don’t be ‘ruff’ on the bay as we are hoping to call attention to the tie between protecting Biscayne Bay and responsible pet ownership.”

The event at 13 Street and Michigan Avenue will feature dog adoptions, free caricatures with pets, pet supply vendors and an opportunity to interact with water quality experts on three key messages related to the city’s We ♥ Biscayne Bay campaign:

• Don't be Ruff on the Bay: Pet waste can take a huge toll on the environment if not cleaned up and disposed of properly. If pet waste enters the waterways, it affects water quality because it contains bacteria as well as nitrogen and phoshporus, which can deplete the oxygen that marine life needs to survive.
• Don't Fertilize the Bay: Excessive or incorrect fertilizer usage has been found to lead to algal blooms. When it rains, fertilizers are carried as runoff into our waterways. Improper fertilizer use not only impacts our waterways but can also lead to long-term degradation of the soil.
• Don't be Trashy: It is important for everyone to do their part in minimizing the amount of pollution that enters the city's vast system of streets, interconnected waterways and sensitive marine habitats. Litter that ends up on the street or ground can eventually make its way into bodies of water.

For more information on Yappy Hour, visit www.mbrisingabove.com/events. For information about the We ♥ Biscayne Bay campaign, visit www.mbrisinabove.com/biscaynebay.

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