Pets of Miami Lakes

Community By Alexandra Herrera, Reporter Friday, July 24, 2026

If you’re on Main Street chances are you may have seen Nala-Rose, a two-year-old golden retriever, with pink crocs and a bandana strolling down the street.

     Owned by Gilbert Rivera, guest services manager at the Miami Lakes Hotel on Main, Nala-Rose is friendly golden retriever who frequents the farmer’s market on Saturdays.

     “She says hello and everyone must pay the belly tax when she passes,” Rivera said.

     Nala-Rose will greet everyone as she passes and will flop over for belly rubs from strangers while out and about.

     Even getting a cup of coffee at the farmers’ market can take a while because Nala-Rose wants to greet all the vendors.

     “She’s very spunky,”

Rivera said.

     Her current favorite foods are chicken chips and freeze-dried beef liver.

     When she isn’t walking along Main Street enjoying pets from strangers, she’s hanging with Rivera’s daughter, Jackie Rivera.

Jackie, 15, is Nala-Rose’s favorite person, Rivera said that Nala-Rose will forget all about him when Jackie is home.

     “She adores her, she sleeps on her head,” Rivera said.