Lawns, gardens and paths through the woods will mark the Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley’s annual dog walk this Saturday.
The walk, with all proceeds benefiting the Shelter, will be at the Landis Arboretum in Esperance.
The walk will be 9am to 1pm. The charge is $10 per adult, and each paid admission receives a free tee shirt. Kids and dogs are admitted free.
The Shelter held past walks at SUNY Cobleskill, but officials decided to move it around the county this year, said President Mary Romain.
“We’re holding it in conjunction with the Arboretum,” she said. “It’s so pretty there, and they’re anxious to have us.
“And we’re a county Shelter, too, so we wanted to have it in a different area of the county.”
Pastor Larry Lake of the Esperance-Sloansville United Methodist Church will bless the animals at 10am, and there will be search-and-rescue demonstrations and also demos by sheep dogs and service dogs.
There will also be vendors, photos, costume and talent contests, live music, raffles and refreshments.
Rather than a taking set route as in past Shelter walks, owners can walks their dogs anywhere on the Arboretum grounds. Maps will be available.
“It should be fun,” Ms. Romain said. “We’ve put a lot of work into this, and the Arboretum has helped a lot.
“We’re looking for our traditional supporters to come, and also new people from the Esperance area.”
The Arboretum will provide bio-degradable bags for owners to clean up after their dogs.
As for the Shelter itself, Ms. Romain said it’s doing well with donations of both money and pet food.
The Shelter is, however, in need of cleaning supplies––pine cleaner, bleach and window cleaner––and dog walkers can donate such items at Saturday’s walk.
For more information about the walk, call 296-8390 or visit www.LandisArboretum.org.