When people run and jump into the water for a big splash, it’s called the belly flop. When dogs do it, it’s called Dock jumping and is more fun to watch.
Dock jumping, Doggie Dash obstacle course, and a performance by the Flying Aces Professional Frisbee Team will be some of the exciting events planned during this 26th annual Dog Walk 2010. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 1, at Prairie View Park in Vicksburg, and is presented by the Kalamazoo Humane Society.
Thousands of people from Michigan, Indiana and Ohio come out for the event and to watched and participate in events which give dogs the center stage. According to Aaron Winters, executive director of the Kalamazoo Humane Society, the event has grown over the years and continues to offer new features each year.
“We started the event 26 years ago at Spring Valley Park in Parchment as a small event. We went from having 600 people attending, to more than 3,000 people,” said Winters who has been with the organization for 23 years. “We outgrew Spring Valley and moved it to Prairie View five years ago.”
The event also features such vendors as, pet micro chipping, pet photography, crazy contests, face painting and informational booths. New this year is caricature portraits of dogs with and without their owners.
Winter said the Dog Walk event is one of their biggest fundraisers and brought in $96,000 last year. This year their goal is $100,000. Their winter fundraiser, Reverse Raffle (to promote spay and neutering) also brings in large funding for the organization.
Those who register to participate in the Dog Walk Walkathon fundraising event may do so by registering online. Participants may walk the course anytime between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Cost is $20 and includes a goody bag with t-shirt, meal ticket and other items. Those who walk and help raise funds also are eligible for prizes such as a $150 gift card to Pet Supplies Plus.
The mission of the 113-year-old Kalamazoo Humane Society is to promote animal welfare and protection, and help control the pet population. Their pet food bank helped 1,400 low-income families last year provide food for their pets. While the organization has not housed animals since 1979, they do partner with Kalamazoo County Animal Shelter and others to help in their missions.
“We provide 30,000 pounds of pet products a year so in these hard economic times, families don’t have to choose between feeding their pet, and sending them to a shelter because they can’t afford to fee them,” Winters said. “We also help victims of domestic assault get the care they need for their pets while they are getting the help they need.”
The Humane Society has two veterinarians on staff who perform surgeries for the pets of owners who may not be able to afford services from a traditional pet clinic. Winters said their mobile clinic performs more than 30 spay or neutering surgeries a day. With the remodeling of their center, they will add on a clinic which will allow them to double the number served.
The health and wellbeing of pets is at the forefront of what the Kalamazoo Humane Society offers. The Dog Walks help celebrate pets and allow them an opportunity to have fun as well.
“We wanted to create an event that would be exciting,” said Winters. “We have a lot of great things happening, so many neat activities, that we offer something new every year.”
For more information regarding this year’s Dog Walk 2010, visit the Kalamazoo Humane Society at www.KazooHumane.org
