Hundreds Support Mickey's Kids' Growing Canine Family

Mickey’s Kids Foundation has done it again.

Thanks to its hundreds of supporters who came to the foundation’s annual gala fundraiser Friday night at Ill Villagio in Carlstadt, the foundation will sponsor another Canine Assistants service dog for a child in need.

The foundation, which was founded by Hasbrouck Heights couple Tom and Michele Meli, has been fundraising soley for Canine Assistants, which breeds and trains the dogs to be service and seizure response dogs.

The gala was a celebration of the growing Mickey’s Kids family which welcomed many special guests, many of who were of the canine kind.

Pirelli, a special dog who was born without a foot, an official mascot in Atlanta, Georgia for 11Alive, an NBC affiliate, was a featured guest at the event. Pirelli was born without his left foot and goes around visiting schools showing children that it's okay to be different because everyone is the same on the inside said, Paula Collins, one of his owners.

Jakob Gibbemeyer and his service dog Blush, who he received this winter thanks to sponsorship from Mickey's Kids was given a special gift from the Melis. In honor of Jakob's love for fire trucks, Hasbrouck Heights Fire Chief Richard Giarratana presented the youngster with an official firefighters helmet. The youngster beamed from ear to ear as the fire chief placed it on his head.

Watch the video to see Jakob get his special gift.

Jakob and Blush are inseparable, says his mother Lara. Blush has instantly become a member of their family she says.

The Melis honored the many people who have helped support their efforts with their own fundraisers including Hasbrouck Heights youngster Alexa Papasavas who had donated her lemonade stand money to help Mickey's Kids and Edie's Dance Factory who donated proceeds from their holiday concert to benefit the cause.

It costs roughly $25,000 to raise and train these special dogs and the foundation works to raise enough to sponsor 1 to 2 dogs per year.

The Melis announced great news as the night got underway they had already raised enough to sponsor another dog this year.

"These folks are so good to us and so important to us and we've come to appreciate them so much," said Gary Arnold, of Canine Assistants regarding the Mickey's Kids.

As a token of appreciation for the work they've done, he presented them with a poster featuring the Mickey's Kids recipients thus far which will be added to each year.