‘Night at Races’ will benefit Paws Town


By Ashley Luthern

aluthern@vindy.com

BOARDMAN

Momentum is building for the creation of a township dog park.

Friends of Paws Town will have a “Night at the Races” from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday to raise money for a dog park that will be located near the Southern Boulevard entrance of Boardman Township Park.

“Night at the Races” will be at the Operating Engineers Union Hall 66, 291 McClurg Road, and admission is $5. Bets are taken on films of old horse-races, with the horses’ names changed, that are projected on a screen.

This is just the latest fundraiser for Paws Town, which also has a partnership with Petco, 317 Boardman-Poland Road.

Petco has Pooch Playtime on Wednesdays and Sundays, with different sessions depending on the size of the dog.

“We started it in the winter months so they could have something to do in the meantime. It’s not only for exercise for the dogs, but also socialization,” said Nicole Calhoun, Petco general manager.

She added that an area dog park is needed.

“There’s not a whole lot you can do with the dog here. You can walk the dogs, but off-the-leash parks, there’s not anything like that around here,” Calhoun said.

Friends of Paws Town already has raised $14,000 toward its $50,000 goal, said Jason Loree, organizer of Friends of Paws Town and township administrator.

The $50,000 will be used to create a fenced area, with some toys and small equipment where dogs could play unleashed under owner supervision, he added.

“Eventually, we’ll raise funds for agility equipment. The dogs can jump over tires or they can go through poles in and out,” said Abbey Loree, who also is part of Friends of Paws Town.

“It’s been wonderful meeting all these animal lovers. I hope that, once the dog park is built, that’s what it brings for dog owners: new friends and dog friends,” she added.

For more information about a “Night at the Races” or Pooch Playtime, visit Pawstown.org.