by Dennis Dalman
It’s never too early to start raising funds for the annual Tri-County Humane Society Companion Walk, which will take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 in east St. Cloud’s Wilson Park.
Now in its 37th year, the event is one of TCHS’s most vital yearly fundraisers, making it possible to provide care and shelter to homeless animals in the central Minnesota area.
This year’s Companion Walk theme, once again, is “Woofstock,” a pun on “Woodstock,” the famous music festival in New York 56 years ago that attracted thousands of “hippies.” Thus, Woofstock participants are encouraged to sport, if possible, bellbottoms, peace signs, love beads, moccasins, tie-dyed clothing and so forth. Many walkers also gussy-up their pets with hippy regalia.
Participants include solo walkers, those who walk with their pet dogs and entire teams of walkers. To find more details and how to register as a pledge-funding raiser and to start an online pledge form, go to the following online site: CompanionWalk/tricountyhumanesociety.org.
There is a registration fee of $35 per pledge walker (fee includes free T-shirt). After turning in pledge funds, those participants are eligible to win prizes, including a grand prize.
Woofstock registration fees, as well as any additional pledge walking funds raised are crucial to help the thousands of homeless animals the humane society cares for and prepares for adoptions every year.
Registration is not required to fundraise or participate in the walk. But those who register, earn a Woofstock T-shirt. Many people prefer to raise pledge funds in person among friends, neighbors, acquaintances.
Features and activities at the Woofstock Companion Walk include vendor booths, a bounce house for kids, games for dogs and kids, a $10 microchip clinic to get pets microchipped, a silent auction, a costume contest for people and for pets, lots of various foods, a raffle drawing and the singing of the National Anthem.
Last year, TCHS took into its shelter 5,160 animals, with 3,082 of them undergoing surgeries (such as spaying-neutering), and 4,489 of the animals adopted out to people’s homes.
To learn more about the important work TCHS does year in year out for animals, visit its website by googling “Tri-County Humane Society.”
“Cheeto Pete” is a 5-year-old male cat seeking a “forever home” as he waits for adoption at the Tri-County Humane Society, based in east St. Cloud. To find out more about how to adopt Cheeto Pete or other critters, google online the Tri-County Humane Society.
