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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Dogs, owners enjoy 'paws' that refreshes

By: Katherine Dow

Posted: 06/25/2012 3:17 AM | Comments: 0

Taffy jumps at owner Andrea Pochinco's command while at the Paws in Motion fundraising walk for the Winnipeg Humane Society at Assiniboine Park.

Assiniboine Park went to the dogs on Sunday. Literally.

From golden retrievers to huskies to poodles, every breed imaginable was strutting its furry stuff at the local park.

So who let the dogs out? The pooches were hitting the park for the Winnipeg Humane Society's (WHS) Paws in Motion, a walkathon for pets and owners alike.

The event raises funds for the WHS's spay-and-neuter program. The WHS does as many as 6,000 spay-and-neuter procedures a year.

Walkers can fundraise alone or in teams. Dogs and their owners pay a $10 registration fee.

Christine Stoesz, the event officer for Paws in Motion, said this year's event turned out to be its most successful.

"We have the most sponsors ever to date, and we probably have the most amount of walkers to date," said Stoesz, who estimated that about 1,100 walkers were registered this year. "You don't even need to bring a dog to attend. You can just come to walk. You just have to be an animal lover. The outpouring of community response is just so special to be a part of."

Charlie and Jeff are a pair of four-year-old English bulldog brothers that came to the event. They came not to walk but to socialize, said owners Doug and Sue Bell.

"They're pretty lazy. They get too hot to walk, but they like to see and be seen. It's all about them today," said Sue.

Lyle and Kathy Kenny have been bringing their dachsunds, Daisy and Molly, to the walk for three years, though Daisy no longer walks because she has back problems.

"We try and get them introduced to the other animals. They don't socialize so well, so we force them," Lyle joked.

Spencer, a nine-year-old miniature schnauzer, was dressed to the nines for the occasion in a tie-dye dress and booties.

Like Daisy, Spencer did not walk the route because she has neurological troubles. The miniature schnauzer rode in a wagon looking demure and relaxed.

Spencer's owner, Renee Morin, started a new playgroup for dogs called Out of the Doghouse. The 12-person team raised more than $6,000 for the WHS.

"The event keeps getting bigger and bigger. And I'm amazed because you don't hear barking, there's no biting. There's just walking and butt-sniffing," joked Morin. "It's such a nice sense of community that happens here. At an event like this, everyone feels a part of it, a part of a good cause."

katherine.dow@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 25, 2012 A5

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