If you have a dog, you know the w-word will set off tumble-down-the-stairs-and-out-the-door excitement. Hide the breakables and let the tails wag, because it’s walk time at the Georgian Triangle Humane Society (GTHS).
The sixth-annual Friends For Life Walk takes place at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 23 at Blue Mountain Village. The annual fundraiser sees participants walking a 3K or a 5K loop with or without a furry friend.
This will be Janet Saddler’s first time in the walk. While she doesn’t have a dog now, she’s always had a dog or cat in her home, and believes in the work of the GTHS.
“I know the pleasure [pets] bring you, the laughter they invoke and the warmth in your heart they show is immeasurable,” said Saddler, who helped get a dog park built at Piper’s Landing. “Raising funds to support the GTHS is the least I can do to help this organization do their wonderful work.”
Saddler is one of this year’s top fundraisers for the event.
“I am lucky that I have great friends and family backing me in supporting this incredible organization,” she said.
In addition to taking in strays and surrendered animals for adoption, the GTHS runs educational programming, obedience classes, and works with northern rescue agencies to find homes for dogs rescued from remote communities.
Monika Merz, the chairperson of the walk-a-thon committee, said funds raised at the annual Friends for Life Walk go toward the shelter’s rescue efforts.
“The GTHS receives no government funding and relies solely on donations and fundraising activities like the Walk-a-thon to support abandoned, neglected, and abused domestic animals in the Georgian Triangle area,” said Merz. “We are grateful for the support from our title and community sponsors, our volunteers and for the many participants.”
In addition to the charity walk event, there will be Paw Patrol characters on site, face painting, a costume look-a-like contest and more.
There’s still time to register to participate or make a donation toward someone’s fundraising goal online here.
