By SCOTT D. JOHNSTON
Twin Harbors Newspaper Group
In much of the country, the “dog days” of August means sweltering heat. But on Grays Harbor, this month’s dog day is this Saturday with the seventh annual Ocean Shores Woof-a-Thon.
Dubbed by its founder, Wilma Spike, as “the most fun day of the year for your dog — and you,” the event doubles as a party for pooches and people and a fundraiser for area animal charities. It will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the track and football field at North Beach Jr./Sr. High School.
In six years, the event has donated over $60,000 to pet-related nonprofits and activities on the Harbor. This year’s beneficiaries are North Beach PAWS, PAWS of Grays Harbor, Harbor Rescue, Northwest Search & Rescue and Ocean Shores Food Bank, which for years has included pet foods in its twice-monthly free food distributions.
The fundraising comes via direct donors, sponsors, vendors and a popular gift basket raffle that boasts dozens of donated goodie baskets created in a variety of themes. Nancy Oakes, who volunteered to act as president of the local Woof-a-Thon’s registered nonprofit after Spike’s retirement last year, noted that it’s not too late for additional vendors and sponsors, and basket donations. Interested parties can reach her at 307-250-3378.
The event opens at 10 a.m., with one of the highlights — the mass dog walk around the track — at 11. Two hundred or more dogs and even more humans are expected to participate. There is a Search and Rescue Team demonstration at noon, and the basket raffle wraps up at 1 p.m. The event concludes at 2 p.m. Throughout the day, PAWS of Grays Harbor will be cooking and selling hamburgers and, of course, hot dogs.
“The Ocean Shores Woof-a-Thon continues the legacy started by Wilma,” Oakes said. “There is never enough money, volunteers or animal foster homes to assist all the rescue organizations we are blessed to have in Grays Harbor.”
Especially troublesome, Oakes said, is that “we have such an issue with people not spaying and neutering,” leading to “a huge influx of abandoned animals at all times.” She added that there are many instances of animal abuse, and “many animals need loving foster homes.”
More information is available online at www.oceanshoreswoofathon.org.
