BRATTLEBORO — The Windham County Humane Society (WCHS) will hold its 18th annual Walk for Animals at the Retreat Farm on Saturday, Oct. 9.
Registration begins at 10 a.m. At 11 a.m., participants and their canine companions will walk a 2-mile loop through downtown.
Social, well-behaved dogs who will enjoy the crowd are welcome to walk. All dogs must be leashed (no retractable dog leashes, please).
According to the humane society, the event “leverages community support when participants ask friends, family, and colleagues to donate toward their walk.”
A pledge sheet can be downloaded at windhamcountyhumane.org or people can donate online at bit.ly/632-gofundme.
The top 10 fundraisers win prizes donated by local businesses, and all participants who raise $50 or more will get a dog bandanna and an insulated lunch bag. One Stop Country Pet Supply is sponsoring the event and has donated a $250 gift card as one of the prizes for top fundraisers.
In 2020, the WCHS helped 2,000 animals, serving more of them than ever despite the pandemic. The shelter focused on local animals while also continuing to rescue animals from other parts of the country who faced euthanasia due to a lack of space, once travel bans were lifted.
In 2021, staff members say they are seeing a continued desperate need for veterinary care.
“Local vets are referring clients to us,” said Director of Operations Keri Roberts. “We have people calling who have been told by their veterinarian that it will be five to six weeks before they can get in for a euthanasia appointment.”
“That's an emotionally draining but critical service, and we are grateful that we can help in these heartbreaking situations,” Roberts said.
As of mid-September, the shelter has also provided 765 rabies vaccines, 696 distemper vaccines and 569 spay/neuter surgeries to owned animals and community cats.