ESTEVAN - Dogs and their owners could be seen out walking in southeast Estevan on Sunday as part of the Estevan Humane Society’s annual Dr. Neil Howard Memorial Dog Jog.
About two dozen people registered for the event, and they walked from the humane society’s shelter to Fourth Avenue South before returning to the shelter. The route had to be curtailed due to a heat wave that has gripped southeast Saskatchewan. They were supposed to walk to the dog park at Woodlawn Regional Park and then return.
The EHS also wrapped up the activities associated with the fundraiser early. The humane society sold taco in a bag to raise funds, and an inflatable playground was available for children to enjoy.
President Tayja Lakusta believes they still managed to raise about $6,000 for the shelter. She noted their top fundraisers in each of the seven to 11 and 12-15 age groups brought in nearly $2,000 each.
“They did very well for themselves and we thanked them for that, and then we had our little zero to six-year-olds that got to raise some money, too,” said Lakusta.
The amount of money raised doesn’t include a fundraiser that was held at Pet Valu on Saturday.
Lakusta expects the money raised would go to veterinary bills. The humane society has had a high number of intakes that has boosted the number of animals currently at the shelter.
“We have a lot of new intakes coming up that are ready and available,” she said.
The dog jog is one of their smaller fundraisers of the year in terms of funds generated, but Lakusta said it’s always nice to get together with the community, get the animals together and get the kids involved.
“It’s a different kind of fundraiser for us, not focused so much on how much we can raise. That’s a bonus, but it’s more community-based than some of the other ones might be.”
The humane society is currently at capacity for dogs with nine or 10, and it has around 65 cats between those in foster homes and those in the shelter.
