He has always loved to visit zoos and talk about animals. He and his family traveled from South Carolina to make his wild wish come true!

Dale was greeted by Ron Magill, Zoo Miami’s goodwill ambassador, and set off on the safari of his dreams! Riding in a golf cart, Dale went on a VIP tour of the habitats of all his favorite animals. He learned fascinating facts and asked many questions along the way. He learned about what they eat, and how to take care of them. He was very intimidated by the sheer size of some of the animals, but he loved every minute of his behind-the-scenes adventure.

Dale’s mother continued, "We had a wonderful time at the zoo. It was great to see his big, happy smile. I'm going to cry again. Make-A-Wish is just truly angels here on earth. Everyone is so kind and caring and really made my superstar feel like a superstar today.”

Clutching his favorite new stuffed elephant, Dale fed carrots to a giraffe, witnessed an elephant speak on command, threw treats to chimps, and posed for photos with a giant tortoise that ate apples with its mouth wide open. It was an experience that went well beyond anything he hoped for or expected.

Ron Magill said, “When I see the smile on Dale’s face, it makes everything worth it. It’s a privilege for the zoo to provide this experience for Dale. One of my favorite charities in the world is Make-A-Wish because there’s nothing more important than our kids. I get more out of this experience than the wish kid does. There is no greater pleasure than doing something for a kid.”

Wish granted in collaboration with Make-A-Wish South Carolina