by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
Beautiful weather, beautiful people, beautiful dogs and even a beautiful cat named Mr. Nickles – who could ask for anything more?
The second annual Bark for Life walk, this year at Sartell’s Dog Park May 7, was a great success, raising just about $7,000 for the American Cancer Society – $1,000 more than last year’s walk in St. Cloud’s Wilson Park.
About 100 people and dogs attended the event in Sartell’s Pinecone Central Park, where the dog park is located. Mr. Nickles the cat also seemed to enjoy all the fun and commotion. He is owned by Grant Pulliam of St. Cloud, who emceed the Bark for Life in Sartell.
“It was such a good day,” said Jessica Ostendorf of Albany, who organized the event. “I’m so pleased with it hitting numbers that big for such a new event. I think it’s going to keep growing and growing.”
Ostendorf works for the Minnesota School of Business as a veterinary technician and is the events chair for Bark for Life of St. Cloud. She is one of many students at the school who volunteers their time for events such as Bark for Life.
“Every person is affected one way or another by someone having cancer,” she said. “And, not to forget, dogs and other pets can and do get cancer, too.”
Ostendorf said all the money raised stays in the local area, as does all money raised in other events sponsored by the American Cancer Society, such as Relay for Life.
People in the greater St. Cloud area have earned the right to give themselves a pat on the back because the average raised for Bark for Life events in other parts of the nation, including those in big cities, is only between $1,500 and $2,000, Ostendorf noted. And in just two years, the two Bark for Life events in the St. Cloud area have raised a total of $13,000.
Last year, the greater St. Cloud area was honored with the All-American Relay Award for its successful fundraising efforts, with more than $100,000 raised for the American Cancer Society.
The event is appropriate, she said, not only because pets can get cancer, too, but because pets have been known to bring great comfort and affection to people suffering from cancer.
When the American Cancer Society asked Ostendorf if she would like to chair the Bark for Life event two years ago, she just could not say no because the causes of cancer and of pets are close to her heart.
“It’s been so much fun to meet so many wonderful, interesting people dedicated to fighting cancer,” she said. “And the money raised helps so much with needs of cancer patients such as transportation and even with wigs. The Bark for Life is a great barrier-breaker for people and pets to get together. It’s another reminder we’ve all been touched in some way by cancer.”

A child and a dog give each other the eye at the Bark for Life walkathon in Sartell.

Walkers and their pooches raised nearly $7,000 for the American Cancer Society during the May 7 Bark for LIfe fundraiser in Sartell.

Walkers and their pooches raised nearly $7,000 for the American Cancer Society during the May 7 Bark for LIfe fundraiser in Sartell.

The second annual Bark for Life event took place the morning of May 7. The event is part of the American Relay for Life and celebrates the human-animal bond and companionship that pets have with their owners who undergo cancer treatments. Roughly 100 walkers registered for the event which took place at Pinecone Central Park in Sartell. In addition to the walk there were other activities available including face-painting, a “smooch-a-pooch” booth, a dog-training demonstration and multiple vendors on site.

Steve Hansen of St. Cloud and his 6-year-old border collie, Enzo, provide a demonstration on reinforcement training as a young audience observes. Hansen rescued Enzo from a high-kill shelter in Kentucky through Minnesota Border Collie Rescue. Pictured from left to right are: Avery Guyer, 11, of Clearwater, and Amber Dehne, 10, and Mallori Headley, 10, both of Brainerd.

A huge St. Bernard affectionately named “Peanut” drew a lot of attention both due to her size and fashion sense. Peanuts’ owners (pictured above) are Richard and Yvonne Rahn of Melrose.

Joan and Bruce Gasser of Sartell, who have a relative who has survived cancer, came out to support the Bark for Life event with their “grand-dogs,” Macy and Piper.