PARIS — Dog lovers and others are invited to participate in a dog walk next month to raise money for a kennel pavilion at the Responsible Pet Care shelter in Paris.
The second annual Fun Dog Day, which starts with the walk, will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 22, at the Oxford Fairgrounds off Pottle Road in Oxford. The half-mile walk is being sponsored by the Norway Veterinary Hospital on Route 26.
The Fun Dog Day contests and games, and the walk, are free and will be held rain or shine at fairgrounds.
“The more people who bring their dogs to walk, the more money we can raise,” committee member Ellen Benner said Monday.
So far, six teams have signed up. They are Bessey Motors of Paris; Wellpoint Veterinary Service in Norway; Jackie’s Friends, in memory of Jackie Stoutamyer; Dog Gone from Norway Savings Bank; Ruby’s Angels from Responsible Pet Care; and Roosters Roadhouse of Bethel.
Participants can walk with or without a dog. Prizes will be awarded to the top three individual fundraisers, the top team fundraiser and the top junior fundraiser who is 16 years old or younger.
“There is nothing else like this event in western Maine,” Benner said.
The money raised will be used to put a pavilion over each of the six outside dog kennels at the shelter on Swallow Road.
“The dogs can be outside year round, sheltered from sun in the summer and out of snow and rain. They’ll have more outside time,” Benner said.
The shelter has eight dogs, including some hounds and lab breeds, but that number can change daily, she said.
“There are a lot of surrenders because of economics,” Benner said.
Responsible Pet Care was established in 1997 by a small group of people who recognized the plight of unwanted cats in the Oxford Hills region. The founding group pooled their money to purchase property on Route 118 in Norway. The shelter was later expanded for dogs.
A 5,600-square-foot building was bought in Paris last year. The $295,000 purchase price was raised by community members. In August, the group received a $50,000 grant from USDA Rural Development to retrofit the building.
ldixon@sunjournal.com
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- Bessey Motors of Paris prepares to take part in the Fun Dog Walk again this year to benefit Responsible Pet Care animal shelter in Paris. From left are employees Doug Van Durme with Daisey, Dale Merrill with Amy, Mindy Herrick with Lily, Jeff Gaudette with Malcolm, owner Gene Benner with Cadi, employees Jayme Lane with Forest and Walter Dow with Brandy.
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