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Help homeless pets
Put on your walking shoes
By Sally E. Bahner
Nearly 3,000 people are expected to turn out for the festivities taking place in conjunction with the Walk for Homeless Pets on August 22. Sponsored by the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter in Branford, the event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is expected to be a fun-filled family affair with activities, games and contests.
The highlight of the event will be the Walk itself where participants – with and without their dogs – will walk from Branford Point to the Branford Green. For a minimum pledge of $25 guests receive an official event T-shirt, doggie bandana, and goodie bag.
According to Shelter Director Laura Burban, the Walk for Homeless Pets will create awareness about the services offered by the shelter.
"A lot of people call and they’re not aware of what we offer," says Burban. "I wanted to do something different."
Vendors will offer pet and non-pet items for sale, plus there will be kids’ rides, food and ice cream and raffles. Branford First Selectman Anthony "Unk" DaRos is expected to speak at the event.
Shelter volunteer Bonnie Plass has been "a great help" in obtaining raffle items from local merchants, says Burban.
Except for the help of Plass, Burban has been pretty much going it alone in terms of organizing the walk. "Next year I plan on having a committee," she says. "It’s quite a big task."
Open since April 2003, the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter has helped rescue, rehabilitate, and re-home thousands of animals including wildlife. The shelter goes out of its way to provide medical care for pets that might otherwise be euthanized.
Looking beyond the goals of traditional shelters, the Dan Cosgrove Shelter offers various programs and services to educate, inform and inspire people to care responsibly for their pets and treat them with the kindness they deserve.
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