More than 50 turn out to walk pets for Walk-A-Thon
Residents walked their dogs Saturday morning in a North Logan park to help homeless pets in Cache Valley.
It might have been early in the morning, but the Cache Humane Society’s Pet-Walk-A-Thon fundraiser brought out nearly 50 community residents and their dogs to come and support the organization. The fundraiser took place at Elk Ridge Park, 1060 E. 2500 North in North Logan and included a .8-mile walk around the park, a Frisbee-catching contest, prizes and refreshments. The cost of registration was $15 and all proceeds went toward the Cache Humane Society’s animal shelter, which is still in progress of building completed.
Although it was the society’s 12th annual Pet-Walk-A-Thon, this time around it was completely organized by a small group of Utah State University students working on their project for a management and human resources (MHR 3110) class. The projects from the MHR class, which have included the mass CPR certification, homeless on the Quad and the CarnAGGIEval from different MHR groups this semester, are designed to raise awareness about an issue in society.
Don Barringer, vice president of the Cache Humane Society board of directors, said the MHR group deserved an A grade.
“They did a super job,” he said. “They were wonderful to work with.”
Hilary Smith, a dietetics junior, said her MHR group decided to help the Cache Humane Society after reading an article in The Utah Statesman about the society’s half-built shelter. The article, entitled “Homeless humane society,” printed in late January, spoke of the issues the organization faces and the insufficient funds for the animal shelter in progress. Located at 2350 W. 200 North, the shelter’s exterior has been built, but the interior still needs finishing.
More than $150,000 is needed for the shelter to be completed.
Barringer said the Pet-Walk-A-Thon fundraiser has brought the Cache Humane Society closer to its goal of completing the animal shelter.
“The importance of the shelter is having a central facility,” Barringer said. As of now, animals are taken care of through different foster homes around the valley, but the shelter, when completed, will provide one efficient location.
“It’s definitely a need in this community,” Smith said, who was surprised to see the amount of people who showed up for the event.
Prizes and money were also donated from local businesses, including Old Grist Mill, Angie’s, the Olive Garden, Firehouse Pizza, Sizzler and more.
-joelfeathers@cc.usu.edu