Hundreds of dogs will descend upon a local park to lend a helping paw for their fellow animals in need.
The Animal Protective Foundation is hosting its 20th annual Fireplug 500 Walk for Animals on Saturday, Sept. 8, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Central Park in Schenectady. The event raises money to support the nonprofit’s animal care, adoption, and spay and neuter programs. Walkers can sign up as an individual or with a team of fellow walkers, with or without a canine companion. There will also be activities, pet-themed vendors and prizes offered for reaching various fundraising goals.
A handful of volunteers and around 35 walkers were at the first walk 20 years ago, but it has grown greatly, APF spokeswoman Marguerite Pearson said. Around 1,500 people attended last year and raised about $65,000.
“We just kept at it every year and kept adding more features,” Pearson said. “Now it has grown to be the largest dog walk in the region.”
This year, she said early registrations have been “a little tight,” but the group is hoping more people will sign up as the race nears. There is no registration deadline, but registering before the event is preferred. Walkers are requested to donate a minimum of $25.
“It’s a really great day for the family,” she said. “There are activities for kids and of course activities for animals, so it is just really a nice family event that you can do with your pets.”
This year’s goal is to raise $70,000, and the walk is the biggest fundraiser for the nonprofit.
Each registered dog walker will receive a doggie bag with toys, samples and other goodies, while supplies last, and a bandana for each dog. There are also five different prizes offered for reaching certain fundraising or donation levels.
The $100 mark awards a “Spay/Neuter/Adopt/Love” logo drink tumbler, $250 awards a Spay/Neuter/Adopt/Love” logo T-Shirt, $500 awards an APF-embroidered logo spa blanket, $1,000 awards sterling silver paw pendant by Sondra’s Fine Jewelry, and if you raise $1,500, you’ll receive two tickets to the “Tails by Twilight” gala on May 9, 2013.
Also, the team raising the most will win an “Italian feast” from More Perreca’s in Schenectady.
There will be a doggie photo booth with animal photographer Heather Bohm-Tallman and pictures taken can be purchased through her website after the event. You can even “smooch a pooch” for $1, with Schenectady therapy dogs ready to offer some affection. Also, if you’re looking to adopt a pet, there will be a Rescue Roundup featuring animals from area adoption shelters.
There’s even an option for kids who are begging for a four-legged pet but their parents say no.
“We also do a plush pet adoption booth for kids,” Pearson said. “They get to adopt a stuffed animal, and they fill out a little adoption contract.”
Pets can also receive an individual blessing from Father Harold Reed, which includes a prayer to keep them safe and a St. Francis medal, who is the patron saint of animals.
Pearson said people enjoy having a place to go with their animals, and they like the variety of things offered at the event.
“It is really pretty amazing, because there are hundreds of dogs in one spot, and they are all so well behaved,” she said. “It just a really inspiring day, because there are so many people that love animals and they come together to help animals that don’t have a family.”
To register for the event visit the APF’s website at www.animalprotective.org, or call Marguerite Pearson at 374-3944 x113 for information. Walk brochures can also be picked up at APF located at 53 Maple Ave. in Glenville.
Town grants APF expansion
The Glenville Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday, Aug 13, awarded a conditional approval to the APF for its proposed 4,200-square-foot addition. Two days later, the Town Board approved a rezoning for the property to General Business and SEQR application.
The town rezoned the APF’s property in 2001 to a Research, Development and Technology zoning classification, which doesn’t permit its proposed business usage. Since the town rezoned the property, which the APF has been located at for several years prior to the change, it has been out of compliance with the zoning.
Supervisor Christopher Koetzle applauded the zoning change and project.
“This is actually in line with our comprehensive plan,” Koetzle said. “There seems to be no negative impacts … I think this is a great thing for the APF.”
The project includes an expanded spay and neuter clinic. Also, a new reception area would be built with improvements to the existing 9,000 square-foot structure.
“We’re ready to go,” Rosalie Ault, executive director of the APF, said after the meeting. “We’ve been waiting.”
The facility does spay and neuter stray cats and dogs, but only owned cats can receive services due to its limited space. The organization spays and neuters around 3,000 cats annually, and it’s hoping to double that number after the expansion.
The project construction and upgrades to equipment and facilities is estimated to total around $1 million, according to Ault, and the nonprofit has raised more than $400,000 toward it.
Funds raised from the Fireplug 500 Walk for Animals do not go toward the proposed expansion project but support general operations. The APF is running a separate capital campaign to raise funds for the expansion.
