By Jordan Studer
jstuder@wbcowqel.com
The best friends of Crawford County’s cats and dogs walked, ran and pedaled on Saturday in support of the Humane Society Serving Crawford County.
The annual Paws Walk 5k took place on Saturday. The Paws Walk has always been one of the Humane Society’s major fundraisers each year.
Since the Humane Society is a private entity (separate from the dog warden), getting no funds from the local, state, or federal tax dollars, fundraisers are essential. Adoptions, donations, request memorials, and fundraisers are the things that keep their doors open.
To be sure that the Paws Walk remains a good source of fundraising, some new things have been added over the years to keep things interesting. This year, the festivities began at 8:00 a.m. with the Paws Walk’s newest addition, Pedal For Paws.
“Today was actually the first Pedal for Paws and we had a 12, 24, 40, and a 65-mile bike ride. We have had people from Pittsburgh and from Columbus and from our area come in to do this. And for the first year, with the weather the way it is, I am very pleased with how it’s turned out,” Executive Director Victoria Carmean commented about the kicking off the new addition.
After the riders rolled out, the 5k runners went on their way at 8:30 as well. When the running fun was done, in came the next wave, the Paws walkers. The Paws Walk Poker took place at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.
The next event proved to be the most popular part of the day in past years. Any pet owner that wanted their cat or dog micro-chipped or rabies vaccinated could come out between 11 am and 1 pm and have that done by veterinarian Erica Shieber, from Bucyrus Veterinary Services. This clinic is only put on by the Humane Society once a year, so the turnout is usually very large.
Carmean mentions how popular microchips have become over the years. “Microchips are becoming a very valuable way of keeping people and their pets together and so we highly suggest that people with pets have them micro-chipped.”
One woman, Sandy Shields, was waiting in line for the clinic with her dog, Leia, whom she adopted from the Humane Society. Shields, also a member of the board at the Humane Society, knows that the Paws Walk is not only a vital fundraiser for the shelter, but also a way to get their name out in the community more.
“We need to get as much information as we can out about the shelter… Everything that we do helps get information out so that we can continue to take care of the animals that we bring in and out,” Shields said.
When talking to Shields about adopting her dog from the shelter, she encourages everyone to do the same. There are many adorable and helpless animals in the shelter that just need a loving home.
“We always say, adopt don’t shop. She’s an integral part of our family and she gives to us every day. She’s just a real sweetheart,” Shields comments while smiling down at her dog who has become family.
For more information about helping the shelter with donations or adopting a pet in need of a caring home, contact the Humane Society Serving Crawford County at 419-562-9149.