Walk in the Park set for Saturday

BY HEATHER MILLER
THE DAILY IBERIAN
Published/Last Modified on Monday, March 23, 2009 2:09 PM CDT

Pets, pet owners and those who want to adopt or simply support animals from the Iberia Humane Society will have plenty of activities to choose from at this year’s Walk in the Park.

The second annual fundraising event, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at City Park near the Cyr-Gates Community Center, is centered around a one-mile, pet-friendly walk around City Park.

“This year will be fabulous,” said Iberia Humane Society shelter director Dayna Perry. “We’ve added so much, and we’ve acquired so many volunteers that we now have a whole separate group of people focusing on the event so it can grow.”

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Registration for the walk begins at 10 a.m., with the walk starting at 11 a.m. The minimum registration fee is $10, and Perry said event coordinators are looking for sponsors.

To download a registration form early, Perry said to visit the Iberia Humane Society Web site, www.iberiahumane.com.

For non-walkers who want to support the cause, there will be musical entertainment with Donna Angelle and the Zydeco Passe from noon to 3 p.m., a “doggie” boutique with games and treats for pets, an Easter Bunny photo area, a petting zoo with ponies available for riding, concessions and a raffle and silent auction.

Attendees also are encouraged to enter their dogs into contests including “waggiest” tail, best trick, pet and owner look-alike and best Easter bonnet worn by a dog. The cost to enter dogs into the contests is $10, and the one-time contest registration fee allows the dogs to be entered in one or all of the categories.

The dog contests start at 1:30 p.m.

There will be first-, second- and third-place prizes awarded for each category, Perry said, but instead of traditional trophies, event coordinators are having dog tags engraved with ribbon for the winners.

Perry confirmed that Trixie the clown also will make a guest appearance at the event.

All proceeds from the various activities and events throughout the day go toward the local nonprofit, which houses more than 50 dogs and 70 cats at any given time. There also are at least 15 to 20 animals being cared for by foster parents, Perry said.

The Iberia Humane Society handles at least 25 adoptions a month, Perry said, but the number of animals being dropped off makes the number of animals housed there consistent.

“It’s a constant in and out,” Perry said. “That’s the goal. We want to get them spayed, neutered, vetted and then adopted out. It’s supposed to be a short-term center.”

Last year’s Walk in the Park raised about $4,000, but because it costs nearly $8,000 a month to run the shelter, Perry said this year’s goal is at least $10,000.

“Each year we’re trying to increase how much we can raise to run the shelter,” Perry said.

Comments

    Lynn wrote on Mar 24, 2009 11:08 AM:

    " Well said, Dr. Boudreaux! "

    Dr Boudreaux wrote on Mar 24, 2009 7:38 AM:

    " My family and I have adopted numerous pets from the shelter. We also visit the shelter frequently. Dayna is the best with the animals.

    I urge anyone who is considering a pet to add to their family to visit the IHS first. Give those babies a chance first. They bring just as much joy to a family as a puppy that cost hundreds and even thousands of dollars.

    Registration papers nis NOT what makes a better dog, it is the love, care and treatment that the dog recieves. "

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