AUBURN – The Abused Women’s Advocacy Project and the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society are hosting a community dog walk on Saturday, Oct. 7, at Mt. Apatite Park.

The Walk for a Humane Community is part of AWAP’s calendar of events for Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October and is intended to raise awareness of the issues of animal abuse and human violence.

One in three people in the country are affected by domestic violence, and often that cycle includes violence or the threat of harm to victims’ pets. Seventy-six percent of people who seek safety at domestic violence shelters report that their abusers either harmed or threatened their pets as a tool to control and intimidate them.

Members of the public and their pets are invited to join the Abused Women’s Advocacy Project and the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society to show support for non-violent communities and walk in the park.

Participants will gather at the Garfield Road park entrance at 9 a.m. AWAP and the Humane Society will have information available on domestic violence and animal welfare. Participants are invited to enter a drawing to win a gift basket provided by the Planet Dog Foundation.

Purple domestic violence awareness ribbons will be available for human walkers. Canine participants can show their support by sporting purple bandannas, which have been made by AWAP volunteers from fabric courtesy of Quilt Essentials in Auburn, and which will be available at the beginning of the walk. Bottled water will also be provided. All pets must be on a leash, and participants are encouraged to bring plastic bags to clean up after their pets.

No registration is required. For more information, contact AWAP at 795-6744.