WEST MILFORD — What could be more enjoyable on a beautiful fall day than a leisurely walk in a beautiful park, the breathtaking beauty of the fall foliage, the companionship of family, friends, the family dog and the opportunity to help homeless animals?
The West Milford Animal Shelter will hold its annual Walk-A-Dog-A-Thon on Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012 (rain date Sunday, Oct. 28) at Wawayanda State Park on Warwick Turnpike in Hewitt.
All participants are eligible to win one of six prizes by sponsoring themselves, obtaining sponsors or collecting donations.
Enter alone, as a family, as a group or business; either way, the six highest totals presented at the walk will win. Every dog coming to the dog walk will receive a free doggie “goody bag.”
The prizes are:
Grand prize: $400 gift certificate for JRC Jewelry in West Milford
First prize: $300 ShopRite gift certificate donated by Inserra Supermarkets,
Second prize: $250 gift certificate for Café Amore donated by Critter Sitter Pet Sitting Services in Hewitt
Third prize: $200 iPod Touch donated by Greenwood Lake Animal Hospital in Hewitt
Fourth prize: $150 gift certificate for North Jersey Stone and Stoves in West Milford
Fifth prize: $100 cash
The real winners will be the overwhelming number of homeless animals at the shelter. There are currently over 80 cats and kittens and 12 dogs waiting for new homes and families.
Every $10 raised will feed one homeless cat, kitten or dog for a week. Every $25 raised will provide a series of vaccinations for one homeless dog, cat or kitten.
Fun contests
There will also be five fun contests. Ribbons and a gift bag will be awarded to Best Dressed (dog and owner), Smallest, Largest (by size), Best Trick, Best Behaved (basic commands) and Pucker-up (best kisser).
Contests will start at 1 p.m. and registration is free.
The West Milford Animal Shelter is completely maintained and managed by volunteers and every penny raised will directly benefit the homeless shelter animals.
Someone special
The purpose of this year’s event is not only to raise funds to provide for the over 1,000 homeless animals the shelter’s volunteers care for each year but to highlight one special homeless dog. Her name is Holly Berry and she is a white Boxer mix. Holly is deaf. She has been at the shelter since Dec. 21, 2011 and she is still waiting for her new home and family.
Come support homeless animals and enjoy a leisurely walk in the park. Come with or without a dog(s) and enjoy the day. Refreshments will be provided for dogs and owners.
Information about the shelter, the homeless animals available for adoption and a registration form for the event are available on the shelter’s Web site, www.westmilfordanimalshelter.org. If you do not have access to a computer, call the shelter at 973-728-2859.
If you are unable to attend the event or visit the shelter but want to help, donations can be made at the shelter’s Web site through PayPal.
All of the homeless pets available for adoption have been tested, received age appropriate inoculations and have been spayed or neutered if six months of age or older. The West Milford Animal Shelter has the lowest adoption fees in the area.
The shelter is located on Lycosky Drive in West Milford (behind the recycling center and next to Greenwood Lake Airport) and is open for adoptions Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday evenings 7:30 to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.