SKANEATELES - It was a day for the dogs as nearly 500 canines and their owners joined the day-long Finger Lakes SPCA of Central New York's 11th Annual Pet Walk and Festival on the grounds of Austin Park Sunday afternoon.
Hilary Whitemore, event chairwoman, said the gathering began as a small fundraiser in Auburn.
“We started out with maybe 50 people that first year,” Whitemore said. “Since then we have just kept growing every year. Four years ago we realized that we needed a bigger place so we came here so that we had a bigger facility and a place to go indoors as well in case of bad weather. And Skaneateles is a part of the FLPSCA, I think it has been important to convey that as well - that they are covered by what we do. But it has just kept growing. We expect that we have about 500 people here today with their dogs. It has been amazing to see the amount of support we have received.”
There have also been a few other changes over the past 11 years.
Whitemore said for the first few years, the gathering was held in September, before moving to the spring.
“The weather is much warmer and much nicer,” Whitemore said. “I think it makes more people want to get out and their pets want to get out too. Winter is over, the warm weather is here finally and this gives owners and their pets a chance to get out and enjoy it.”
The day was about more than just enjoying the nice weather. The Pet Walk is also an important fundraiser for the FLSPCA.
“This helps us raise funds we really need,” Whitemore said. “We aren't supported by any outside groups or anything. So this helps us get money for all the expenses of running the shelter and to help us make sure the animals have a comfortable place to be and food and everything they need while we work to find them homes.”
Much of the money raised on Sunday came from the several hundred dogs and owners that signed and gathered pledges for the 1.1-mile walk through the village.
For Ben Scheibel and his dachshund, Carmel, the sunshine and nice breeze made for a perfect day to be outside while at the same time doing something for a good cause.
“It was really nice,” Scheibel said. “It wasn't too hot it wasn't too cold. I think Carmel really liked it. It is the first chance I've had to get him out so that is nice. I think this is a great thing they are doing. It helps out the SPCA and it helps people and their pets spend more time together too. Sometimes people get a dog when they are a puppy and then as they get older they don't spend as much time together. But this is a perfect way to get out and spend a day with your pet and do something good too.”
Throughout the afternoon, there were also lots of fun events like the frisbee/ball contest, jump contest and best costume contest.
“They are a lot of fun,” Whitemore said. “They aren't really competitive, it doesn't matter if your dog has never caught a frisbee before, it is all in fun and everybody has a go at it.”
Joe Fleischman, 13, of Auburn, and his boxer Jack tried their hand at the frisbee contest.
“I think it is a lot of fun,” Fleischman said. “Jack is a pretty good catcher and he is a pretty good jumper too. We like to play around and do all that stuff a lot, so this is awesome they are doing all this.”
Dogs, much like their human counterparts, are also social creatures and the festival gives them a chance to wander around with a lot of their fellow four-legged friends.
“We never have any problems,” Whitemore said. “This is new territory for all of them and they are always so excited to get out and see other dogs; dogs like to be around each other and they love it. They get to run around and sniff each other. It is really cute to see.”
Bonnie Gondell, of Jordan, brought out her daughter's black lab great dame mixed dog, Moose for just this reason.
“My daughter lives in Skaneateles Falls,” Gondell said. “She was going to bring him out but she couldn't make it. Moose was rescued from the SPCA, so I thought it would be great to bring him out here. I think this is a wonderful thing they are doing and he is walking around and seeing all these other dogs, I think he is loving it too.”
To learn more
For more information on the Finger Lakes SPCA of Central New York, visit www.flspca.org
“We started out with maybe 50 people that first year,” Whitemore said. “Since then we have just kept growing every year. Four years ago we realized that we needed a bigger place so we came here so that we had a bigger facility and a place to go indoors as well in case of bad weather. And Skaneateles is a part of the FLPSCA, I think it has been important to convey that as well - that they are covered by what we do. But it has just kept growing. We expect that we have about 500 people here today with their dogs. It has been amazing to see the amount of support we have received.”
There have also been a few other changes over the past 11 years.
Whitemore said for the first few years, the gathering was held in September, before moving to the spring.
“The weather is much warmer and much nicer,” Whitemore said. “I think it makes more people want to get out and their pets want to get out too. Winter is over, the warm weather is here finally and this gives owners and their pets a chance to get out and enjoy it.”
The day was about more than just enjoying the nice weather. The Pet Walk is also an important fundraiser for the FLSPCA.
“This helps us raise funds we really need,” Whitemore said. “We aren't supported by any outside groups or anything. So this helps us get money for all the expenses of running the shelter and to help us make sure the animals have a comfortable place to be and food and everything they need while we work to find them homes.”
Much of the money raised on Sunday came from the several hundred dogs and owners that signed and gathered pledges for the 1.1-mile walk through the village.
For Ben Scheibel and his dachshund, Carmel, the sunshine and nice breeze made for a perfect day to be outside while at the same time doing something for a good cause.
“It was really nice,” Scheibel said. “It wasn't too hot it wasn't too cold. I think Carmel really liked it. It is the first chance I've had to get him out so that is nice. I think this is a great thing they are doing. It helps out the SPCA and it helps people and their pets spend more time together too. Sometimes people get a dog when they are a puppy and then as they get older they don't spend as much time together. But this is a perfect way to get out and spend a day with your pet and do something good too.”
Throughout the afternoon, there were also lots of fun events like the frisbee/ball contest, jump contest and best costume contest.
“They are a lot of fun,” Whitemore said. “They aren't really competitive, it doesn't matter if your dog has never caught a frisbee before, it is all in fun and everybody has a go at it.”
Joe Fleischman, 13, of Auburn, and his boxer Jack tried their hand at the frisbee contest.
“I think it is a lot of fun,” Fleischman said. “Jack is a pretty good catcher and he is a pretty good jumper too. We like to play around and do all that stuff a lot, so this is awesome they are doing all this.”
Dogs, much like their human counterparts, are also social creatures and the festival gives them a chance to wander around with a lot of their fellow four-legged friends.
“We never have any problems,” Whitemore said. “This is new territory for all of them and they are always so excited to get out and see other dogs; dogs like to be around each other and they love it. They get to run around and sniff each other. It is really cute to see.”
Bonnie Gondell, of Jordan, brought out her daughter's black lab great dame mixed dog, Moose for just this reason.
“My daughter lives in Skaneateles Falls,” Gondell said. “She was going to bring him out but she couldn't make it. Moose was rescued from the SPCA, so I thought it would be great to bring him out here. I think this is a wonderful thing they are doing and he is walking around and seeing all these other dogs, I think he is loving it too.”
To learn more
For more information on the Finger Lakes SPCA of Central New York, visit www.flspca.org
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