by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
Although Thor is leery of people, growling at their approach, he seemed happy to be at the Woofstock Companion Walk at Wilson Park last Saturday.
Thor is one of an estimated 250 pets that attended the 26th annual Woofstock, the fundraiser for the St. Cloud-based Tri-County Humane Society. More than 500 people also participated, raising about $40,000 at last count.
During some very dark days, Thor had been a guard dog at a meth house in West Virginia where he had been abused and neglected. When rescued, he was nothing but skin and bones. He was placed in a no-kill animal shelter, and an account of his sad plight was posted on the shelter’s website.
Heidi Larson of St. Cloud happened to see that website, and she immediately decided to sponsor Thor for seven weeks in an effort to get him the proper medical attention and food for him to regain his weight and strength. After Thor’s health finally returned, Larson drove to West Virginia where she adopted the dog and brought him back to St. Cloud.
At Woofstock, Larson and Thor sat together by a hay bale as people and pets gathered to get ready for the 5k Companion Walk.
“We’re here to support the Companion Walk,” Larson said. “But we’re also here to honor ‘Animal Friends of Barbour County (West Virginia) and for Judy Braunsberg.”
Braunsberg and ‘Friends’ started the no-kill shelter that gave Thor a new lease on life.
Larson has had Thor for six weeks, and already the dog has begun to lose its fear of people, she said. Larson attributes it to the power of love. The gradual socialization process for the dog has been surprisingly successful, Larson noted, including the exposure to the people and pets at Woofstock.
“It’s just amazing how dogs respond to love and affection,” she said, as she patted Thor’s head.
And love, affection and fun abounded at Woofstock. On a cool but pleasant fall morning, people and pets took strolls on the grounds of Wilson Park along the Mississippi River. Several dozens of vendors and exhibitors chatted with visitors and admired the staggering variety of dogs and other animals, which included three goats, one mini-horse and one mini-donkey. There were also fun competitive activities at Woofstock, such as a dunk tank, a hot-dog-eating contest and a costume contest. Many of the pets were gussied up with bandanna scarves and whimsical “shirts” or “sweaters,” some with “hippy” themes since Woofstock is a tongue-in-cheek pun on Woodstock, the famous “hippy” music festival that took place in 1969 near Woodstock, N.Y. Some of the dogs on the walk were dogs currently housed in the Tri-County Humane Society shelter; they wore “shirts” printed with two words: “Adopt Me.”
For Marty Dubbins of Rice, it was her first visit to Woofstock.
“Oh, I think it’s the greatest thing I’ve been to in a long time,” she said. “I just can’t believe how many people and dogs are here! I never expected this many.”
Dubbins brought her dog, Skippy, as well as a neighbor’s dog, Daisy. Both are Schipperke breed, both from the same parents but from different litters.
“Skippy and Daisy are both nervous, seeing all these dogs, but I think they’re having a good time, too,” Dubbins said. “It makes me so happy to see so much love at one place between all these people and all these dogs. I’m so glad I came here. I’m coming to the next one too.”
Woofstock is just one of the annual fundraisers for the Tri-County Humane Society, which depends upon donations to do the work it does – dealing with 3,500 animals each year, sheltering, spaying, neutering, ongoing care, education outreach and the adoption process.
People can donate year-round to the humane society on its website at: www.tricountyhumanesociety.org
To find out more about adoptions, call 320-252-0896. The humane society is located at 735 8th St. NE in East St. Cloud. Hours are noon-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon-8 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday.
photo by Dennis Dalman
Heidi Larson of St. Cloud holds her rescued pal Thor at the 26th annual Woofstock Companion Walk Sept. 14 in Wilson Park. Thor had been an abused guard dog at a meth house in West Virginia. Larson heard of the dog through a no-kill shelter’s website and decided to adopt it. She’s had Thor for six weeks, and the happy pet is gradually learning to trust people.
photo by Dennis Dalman
Cowboy a mini-horse and Jasper a mini-donkey were crowd pleasers at the 26th annual Tri-County Humane Society’s Companion Walk Sept. 13 at Wilson Park in St. Cloud. The animals were brought by Heidi Loch (left), an employee at Advanced Care Pet Hospital in Sartell, and Dr. Pamela Gerds, who owns and operates the pet hospital.
photo by Dennis Dalman
If there had been a contest for “biggest dog” at Woofstock, Oliver the Great Dane would have taken the prize. He is owned by Connie Schultz of Avon.
photo by Dennis Dalman
Ruth Sumbs of Sartell, a volunteer, offered many pet products for sale at one of the many vendor booths at the Sept. 13 Woofstock Companion Walk. Sumbs said she enjoys volunteering for the Tri-County Humane Society because it does so much to help animals in need of care and homes.
photo by Dennis Dalman
From a comfortable distance, Skippy (left) and Daisy (right) warily watch hundreds of dogs and other animals during the 26th annual Tri-County Humane Society’s Woofstock Companion Walk Sept. 13 at Wilson Park. Marty Dubbins of Rice brought the two pets to the event, her first time at Woofstock, which impressed her for its demonstration of affection between so many dogs and people.
photo by Dennis Dalman
Three goats were a hit at the Woofstock Companion Walk last Saturday at Wilson Park in St. Cloud. The goats were brought to the annual event by (left to right) Lyndsi Tofie of Cold Spring and Leah Dockendorf of Richmond.
photo by Dennis Dalman
Samantha Bromenschenkel of Clear Lake holds a squirming Lucy just before setting out on the Woofstock Companion Walk last Saturday at Wilson Park.
photo by Dennis Dalman
Brooke Strassburg of Cold Spring had her face painting, canine-style, at the face-painting booth at Woofstock. She brought her dog, Belle, a black-labrador mix, to participate in the 5k fundraising Companion Walk. Strassburg and Belle were walking for their sponsor, Kloster Commerical Resources of St. Cloud.
photo by Dennis Dalman
Jenna Sanford of Big Lake and Cheyenne Sprague of Monticello sport their bright purple shirts and tutus, along with pets Lucy (left) and Zeke. All four walked the 5k Woofstock Companion Walk for the Tri-County Humane Society’s annual fundraiser in St. Cloud’s Wilson Park.
photo by Dennis Dalman
Kathy Bales of Cold Spring brought her golden retriever, Thor, to the Woofstock Companion Walk Sept. 13 in St. Cloud’s Wilson Park.
photo by Dennis Dalman
People and pets gather, ready to walk, at the Sept. 13 Woofstock Companion Walk in Wilson Park. The fundraiser netted at least $40,000 for the Tri-County Humane Society.
photo by Dennis Dalman
These sleek greyhounds are champing at the bit to start their Companion Walk at Woofstock in St. Cloud’s Wilson Park.
photo by Dennis Dalman
Dogs and their proud owners set out on the Woofstock Companion Walk last Saturday at St. Cloud’s Wilson Park. The 5k walk raised at least $40,000 for the Tri-County Humane Society.
photo by Dennis Dalman
The horse contingent of the Benton County Sheriff’s Department led the 26th annual Woofstock Companion Walk at Wilson Park last Saturday.
photo by Dennis Dalman
A boy sprawls inside of a “bowling ball” after taking down two “pins.” The game was one of many fun activities at the 26th annual Woofstock Companion Walk Sept. 13 in St. Cloud’s Wilson Park.