Not everybody’s an animal lover. But everyone has the opportunity to be an animal supporter.
With the Kitsap Humane Society’s 20th Annual PetsWalk happening Saturday, now is a great time to support the work of our local animal shelter.
The PetsWalk is one of the humane society’s fund-raising events that allows both humans and their pets to take part. The walk takes place at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds and begins at 8 a.m.
There’s a 1K and a 5K and walkers are invited to leash up their cat or dog, or bring their pet with a harness or restrained, and enjoy the new walking routes beginning at 9:30 a.m.
All along the route, there will be people cheering walkers on and there will be plenty of water stations for both people and animals.
Of course there’s the fun stuff, too, like contests for the best dressed animal and owner. There are dog races planned and even a talent show for those of us who have pets that can do strange or wonderful tricks.
Sure, it’s all about having a good time. But it’s more than that.
It’s about raising money to support the work of the shelter. So far in 2013, the shelter has sent 1,852 dogs and cats to new loving homes. It has an amazing “save” rate of 94 percent with only the most ill or dangerous animals having to be euthanized.
In 2012, 4,703 animals came to the shelter and 4,322 were rehomed, either with new adoptive families, returned to their owners or transferred to other shelters with like populations.
Their motto is “rescue, rehabilitate, rehome.” And that’s just what they do.
With every animal brought to the shelter, caring professionals work to find a safe place for that animal to be.
In the past year, shelter officials have dealt with cat hoarding situations, animals that had to be taken from abusive homes and many that were left to fend for themselves.
In addition to this work, the shelter has also continued successful spay and neuter programs, and initiated a program for dealing with the feral cat population in parts of Bremerton.
Saturday would be a great day to take your dog to the PetsWalk.
And Saturday would also be a great day to take yourself to the PetsWalk and make a donation to an organization that does so much good in our county.
