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Pet owners strut their stuff at fundraiser in Warren
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Vicki Simons of Bristolville and Otto, 1, participate in the Strut Your Mutt Dog Walk in Packard Park in Warren. Simons is from Canine Companions for Independence, and Otto is her fifth dog raised.
By Jordan Cohen
WARREN
Packard Park hosted its own version of “Dog Day Afternoon” on Sunday, but unlike the 1970s crime film, this really was all about dogs, their feline counterparts and making animals’ lives better.
Owners of more than 50 dogs — ranging from a small chihuahua requiring a buggy to get around to large golden retrievers — walked their canines on the park’s track in the annual Strut Your Mutt Dog Walk. The event has raised funds for spaying, neutering and rescuing homeless animals for six years.
“I’m happy with the turnout,” said Corky Stiles, who organized this year’s walk with a group of 15 volunteers. “We hope to raise from $6,000 to $7,000 today.”
In addition to paying $5 to walk their dogs, owners could bid on 50 donated gift baskets and buy a “spay-ghetti dinner.”
Ironically, Stiles is treasurer of TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) of Warren, an organization dedicated to rescuing cats. “We wanted to make this open to all animal lovers,” she said.
Three other animal welfare organizations — Legacy Dog Rescue, Volunteers of the Trumbull County Dog Pound and Cats are People Too — joined to sponsor the fundraiser.
For every dog, there was a story.
There was Bucky, the chihuahua who suffers from cerebral palsy. Bucky was abandoned near an Elm Road trash bin and rescued by Marty Conklin of Howland, who wheeled the inquisitive little dog in a carriage.
“He can’t walk, but he can roll,” she said.
Judy McCarty of Warren discovered Winchester, a beagle/boxer mix, on Facebook and adopted him.
“I follow what happens to animals on Facebook and that’s why I’m here,” she said.
Then there were Otto and Pepsi, who stood up against a wooden rail to look at the artificial swans in the park’s lake.
The two labrador/golden retrievers are being bred to become assistance dogs for people with disabilities by Canine Companions for Independence, a national organization. Otto is the 11th dog his temporary owner, Vicki Simons of Bristolville, has trained, and Pepsi is the eighth trainee for Nancy Olds of Cortland.
“It’s all voluntary, and we spend [up to] $2,000 a year on their care,” Olds said. Simons added that if the dogs do not meet the qualifications to continue their training, the bond between owner and animal does not have to break.
“I’ve kept three who didn’t make the grade,” she said.
Nearly all of the dogs appeared to be sociable, and there were no incidents other than an occasional bark. Some of the dogs nuzzled with their newfound friends, including two pugs who hit it off with a large black lab.
“It’s all about helping animals,” Stiles said.
A bumper sticker on an SUV parked nearby seemed to sum up her view and that of participants: “Don’t breed or buy while the homeless die. Spay, neuter, adopt.”