Mutts to strut and wag at humane society fundraisers
Great news for animal lovers around the state: two major fundraisers are happening this May: the Lexington Humane Society’s Mutt Strut and the Woodford Humane Society’s Woodford Wag.
The Mutt Strut is on Saturday, May 16 at Coldstream Park (1875 Newtown Pike, Lexington, KY). Registration is at 9 am that day, the 2K dog-friendly walk begins at 10:30 am and there is an A&W Root Beer Float ice cream party at 11:30 am. The events will take place raise or shine. There will also be games, activities, and vendors, including Bark Place, Doggie Art, and Lex Pets. All dogs in attendance must be up-to-date on their Fayette County city license (if applicable) and rabies vaccination.
The Mutt Strut benefits the Lexington Humane Society’s goal to Give Love, Teach Love, and Adopt Love. The organization adopted 4,000 animals into homes this past year, in addition to providing 3,500 free and low-cost spay/neuter surgeries through Spay’sTheWay. The Humane Society also educated over 2,000 individuals through camps, tours, and school outreach programs and adopted 100 dogs through the Canine Companions program.
The Mutt Strut has raised $15,000 of the $45,000 goal with three weeks left. There are prizes available for the top individual fundraisers. The top Kids fundraiser 8 years and under wins a Monkey Joe’s Party Pail. The top Kids fundraiser 9 to 13 years old wins a party at Malibu Jack’s. The top Adult fundraiser wins a 2-night stay for 4 in a cabin outside of Gatlinburg. There are also team prizes. The team with the most money raised wins a Noodles and Co lunch and achievement plaque. The largest team wins a Mellow Mush pizza party for the whole team.
The Woodford Human Society and Woodford Vet Clinic Kennel’s 6th Woodford Wag 5K Country Race and 2K Dog Walk is also in May. It takes place on Saturday, May 23 at Woodford County Park’s Falling Springs Recreation Center (275 Beasley Road, Versailles, KY).
The 5K cross country race for people only begins at 8:30 am. The event is timed by John’s Run/Walk Shop. The 2K dog walk begins at 8:45 am. The event is not timed. There will be awards, prize drawings, and contests following the race.
Awards will include 1st, 2nd, and 3rd (male and female) overall, as well as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in 5-year increments. In addition, there will be an award for the 2K Dog Walk first finisher, a Tail Wagging contest, an Owner and Dog Lookalike Contest, and a Woodford Wag Logo Lookalike Contest.
Registration is open now. Online registration is through May 20; mail-in registration is due by May 12. Race Day registration on-site is 7:30 – 8:15 am. Event t-shirts are guaranteed to participants registered prior to May 11 and they are available first-come first-served to participants registered following May 11.
Once you register, you can create a personal or team fundraising page online. Asking your friends and family to support you could win you a Top Fundraiser prize: two tickets to Freedom Fest 2015. The runner-up will win two tickets to the Bone Appetite Luncheon.
The Woodford Humane Society is a non-profit animal adoption center that has been helping animals around Versailles, Kentucky since 1975. With no government funding, they are dependent on private donations to continue to provide care to over a thousand animals annually.
At any given time, the Woodford Humane Society is home to over 200 animals available for adoption. Adoption counselors are on staff to assist you with picking out a new pet. They even maintain a Wish Book for people seeking a particular breed and let them know when a match is available. In addition, they provide counseling and offer advice for topics such as obedience training, housebreaking, helping a pet adapt to a new home and other behavioral issues.
All animals are evaluated based on health, known history and temperament before being placed for adoption. There is never a time limit for adoptable animals to find a new home — in fact, many animals have remained there a year or more while awaiting their new home.
Animal lovers around Kentucky can help pets around the state by participating in and/or fundraising for either of these great events. For more information, call the Lexington Humane Society at 859.233.0044 or the Woodford Humane Society at 859.873.5491.
This article also appears on page 7 of the May print edition of the Hamburg Journal.
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