by Dennis Dalman
Money will be raised for homeless animals when the Tri-County Humane Society hosts its annual companion walk from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9 in Wilson Park, east St. Cloud.
The goal is to raise $50,000 for the many pets in need at the TCHS animal shelter.
The name of this year’s fundraising walk is “Furassic Park,” a pun on the classic 1993 Steven Spielberg movie “Jurassic Park,” a science-fiction adventure about dinosaurs. The event is being billed as a “Dino-Mite” fundraiser.
The Sept. 9 walk (with pets and their humans) will be shorter than usual because of road construction occurring near the Wilson Park area. In addition to the walk, the event will include vendors, music, a raffle, food and beverages for sale, a silent auction, crafts and games for children, a costume contest for pets and people, demonstrations and a “Meet a Reptile” booth.
There are many ways to help raise funds, even by those who are unable to attend the “Jurassic Park” walking event. The following are ways people can help:
• There is an online auction that began Aug. 25 and will continue until 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, the day of the Wilson Park event. To view the many items available for bidding on, visit www.32auctions.co/CW2023. The goal is to raise $5,000 via the silent auction.
• Another way to help is to start collecting cash and checks from people. Bring them to the Sept. 9 event. Checks should be made out to “Furassic Park” or “Tri-County Humane Society.” The funds raised can also be brought to the TCHS animal shelter at 735 Eighth St. NE, St. Cloud. For more information, call TCHS at 320-252-0896.
• Collect donations by setting up an individual fundraiser page on Facebook. Please put “TCHS Walk” or “Furrassic Park” in the title of the page.
• Or, set up a fundraising page on GiveMN.org.
For tips on how to set up the two online fundraisers listed above, visit www.tricountyhumanesociety.org/walk
• There is one more way to donate for those unable to attend the event in person. A favorite pet’s name, past or present, can be added to a “Flag of Friends” that will be carried at the Jurassic Park Companion Walk. To find out how to do that, call TCHS Manager of Fund Development Emily Prodinsky at 320-252-0896, ext. 14.
On the day of the walk event, prizes will be given to people who raise funds. For example, those who raise $50 to $99 will receive a Furassic Park T-shirt; For $100 raised, a T-shirt and Dairy Queen gift card; for $250 raised, a T-shirt, Dairy Queen card and TCHS baseball cap; for $500 raised, a T-shirt, Dairy Queen card, baseball cap and dog/cat gift pack; for $1,000 raised, all of the items listed above, plus a Santa Paws gift certificate.
In 2022, the TCHS placed 1,961 in foster care, placed 5,207 in adoptive homes and did 3,602 surgical procedures, mainly for spaying and neutering.
This little cutie, Rocky, is one of the kittens at the Tri-County Humane Society waiting for a loving home. Rocky is a female domestic shorthair, about 3 months old and is house-trained. To find out how to adopt Rocky or other animals at the TCHS, google online Tri-County Humane Society, St. Cloud.
