9th Annual Walk Aims to Stamp Out Animal Cruelty and Neglect
Thousand Palms, CA
Animals Samaritans SPCA is holding its 9th Annual Walk with the Animals event to raise money for its Humane Education program and homeless shelter animals. Everyone is welcome. Participants will enjoy a blessing of the animals, animal petting zoo, K-9 police dog demonstrations, Frisbee dog showcase, activities for children, animal related vendors, raffle prizes, and a pet costume contest. Join Master of Ceremonies Jeff Stahl from KESQ channel 3, and enjoy music from Mix 100.5 fm. Walkers can chose between the 1-1/2 mile or ¾ mile walk routes.
Animal Samaritans will provide low-cost pet vaccinations and microchipping at the Walk; cats must be transported in a pet carrier, and dogs must be on a leash. Prices range between $12 and $17 per shot; pet microchipping is $25.
In addition, Animal Samaritans and other local animal shelters will have dogs and cats available for adoption. Animal lovers can download pledge and entry forms online at WalkwiththeAnimals.org.
DATE: Saturday, March 21, 2009
TIME: Registration at 8:00 a.m.; walk starts at 9:00 a.m. Event ends at 12:00 noon
WHERE: Palm Desert Civic Center Park, 73-510 Fred Waring Dr., Palm Desert.
PRICE: A minimum suggested donation of $5.00 per walker is recommended. Event participants raise money through donations and by walking (with or without their pets) for pledge money. The event walk team or individual that raises the most money can win a pizza party from Animal Samaritans or a “DJ for a Day” from Mix 100.5 fm.
INFO: It costs roughly $440 dollars to feed, shelter and provide veterinary care for just one Animal Samaritans shelter animal per year. Both the shelter and humane education program operate at loss. In 2008, Animal Samaritans Humane Education educators saw more than 20,000 local school children and instructed them on pet responsibility and care, animal safety, dog bite prevention, and the basic tenets of compassion and respect for all living creatures. For more information contact Animal Samaritans at 760-343-0837.
Animal Samaritans SPCA, a 501 (c) non-profit organization founded in 1978, is committed to improving the lives of animals and people. As the Coachella Valley’s most comprehensive animal welfare organization, they strive to one day eliminate the needless suffering and abuse of homeless and unwanted animals. Programs and services in place to save the lives of healthy and treatable animals include prevention through humane education, low-cost and no-cost spay and neuter, low-cost vaccinations, low-cost dental care and pet wellness exams, microchipping, animal sheltering and pet adoptions. In addition, more than one hundred volunteers from their Animal Assisted Therapy programs visit disabled children in special needs classrooms, nursing homes, and hospitals, while their Animal Assisted Activities teams see residents at Juvenile Hall. More information is available by calling 760-343-4908 and by visiting www.animalsamaritans.org
