'Paws' Dog Walk

Fetch as many pledges as you can and be part of the Wake County Animal Shelter's  4^th Annual "Paws to Recycle Dog Walk" and Environmental Festival on Saturday, September 6, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at Historic Oak View County Park.

The Dog Walk kicks off this year's Paws to Recycle campaign, a fundraiser that collects proceeds for the animal shelter through the recycling of aluminum cans. This year's Paws to Recycle campaign runs September through November, with all proceeds returning to the County's animal shelter. The Environmental Festival will include citizen information on various environmental topics and an overview of the services provided by Wake County Environmental Services.

The two-mile walk will begin at 9 a.m. Collect pledges and you will help the homeless animals of Wake County. If you like, bring your dog along! Or, walk in honor of your favorite pet. As a participant, you'll receive an official "Paws To Recycle 2003" T-shirt.

Prizes will be given to the three highest pledges. First prize is two round-trip Southwest Airlines tickets and two nights' stay at LaQuinta Inns; second prize is a $300 mall shopping spree; and third prize is a complete photo package, including sitting fees, by Picture People. There are also various raffle prizes, including a $250 gift card compliments of Winn-Dixie Stores. Registration for the Dog Walk begins at 8:15 a.m. Cost is $20 per person, but you do not have to register to enjoy the demonstrations and other events that will take place throughout the morning, including:

• Rescue and animal adoption booths.
• Rabies vaccinations for $5 if you bring a large bag of aluminum cans.
• Dog Gone Fast Flyball Club and Go Dog Go! demonstrating International Flyball Racing.
• AKC (American Kennel Club) information booth, staffed by Bailey, the AKC mascot.
• Canine Good Citizen Testing offered by AKC – a 10-step program to test your dog's manners in the home, in public places and in the presence of other dogs.
• Micro-Chipping Clinic offered by AKC Companion Animal Recovery for a $25 fee – a way to permanently identify your animal through the painless injection of an AKC-registered microchip.
• Contests ($3 each) for "Best Kisser," "Best Costume," "Best Trick," "Frisbee Catcher" and "Cutest Mutt."

Also on hand for public viewing and questions will be the SNAP-NC (Spay/Neuter Assistance Program of North Carolina) Van, a mobile spay/neuter clinic serving Wake County and other areas, and an information booth about Wake County's Department of Environmental Services' various programs and services available to citizens in the county, such as restaurant and pool inspections, water quality testing and animal control, to name a few.

Historic Oak View County Park is located on Carya Drive, off Poole Road at the I-440 Beltline (Exit 15). For more information, call 250-1476 or click here.