Wolfhounds Legacy Chili Cook-off set for Saturday
Live music, great food, great cause; fundraiser to be held at Gator Mike’s Family Fun Park
Get your taste buds ready, the Wolfhounds Legacy third annual Chili Cook-off takes place this Saturday at Gator Mike’s Family Fun Park.
The event, packed with entertainment for all ages, benefits the Cape Coral-based volunteer non-profit Wolfhounds Legacy, an organization that helps save the lives of both veterans and dogs. Bands Daybreak and Signal III will perform at the cook-off, which begins at noon.
“There will be tons of great food, vendors and music,” said Wolfhounds Legacy board member and volunteer Missi Lastra. “Couple that with all of the activities, Gator Mike’s Family Fun Park offers and there’s something for everyone.”
Attendees will have the chance to savor homemade chili ($2 sample, $4 bowl) from both locals and restaurants with trophies being handed out. Big Mama from 103.9 will emcee the event. State Rep. Mike Giallombardo, Cape Coral City Councilmember/Mayor pro tem Jennifer Nelson, and a representative from the office of Congressman Byron Donalds will be in attendance.
The Department of Veteran Affairs also will be on-site and provide suicide prevention services, information on enrollment and eligibility and more.
A Wolfhounds Legacy dog, Drago, was deputized by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Dogs on Thursday and will be at the event to shake paws.
“Drago was severely abused by a previous owner and he’s going to be a service dog liaison,” Lastra said.
Started five years ago by Faye Maliszewski and Linda Pearson, Wolfhounds Legacy takes dogs on death row (as well as other shelter dogs) and trains them to pair with a local veteran who may be experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder.
“We all have been touched by PTSD in some way with our family,” Lastra said.
Maliszewski and Pearson had been working with local rescues on helping find homes for dogs that needed them, and also worked at Fuller-Metz Funeral Home.
They often saw the dark side of PTSD through their time at the funeral home, as well as in their own families.
At an event where an FGCU professor was talking about PTSD and suicide, it stood out when he mentioned that service dogs make the most difference.
With the VA is flooded with requests for service dogs, Maliszewski and Pearson decided to play a role locally in a veteran-rich community.
Wolfhounds Legacy to date has paired more than 100 dogs with local veterans and first responders. They are always busy, training five nights each week to continue to pair as many pups as possible with those who can benefit. It takes just under a year to complete training.
Their staff is made up of 12 volunteer trainers at five locations throughout Southwest Florida.
Dogs rescued who are unable to complete the necessary training to become a service dog still find new homes. Individuals paired with a dog through Wolfhounds Legacy are not charged and are provided with veterinary services, food, toys, leashes, collars and more.
“We’re here to save two lives; a dog’s and a veteran’s,” Lastra said.
There will be testimonials from those who have benefitted from a service dog through Wolfhounds Legacy at the event.
Gator Mike’s Family Fun Park is at 35 N.E. Pine Island Road and open during the event.
Lastra said chili participants can register up until the day of the event, call 239-601-6786 to sign up.
Visit Wolfhounds Legacy on Facebook for more information.
–Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj