Dogs meet at the Walk and Wag for Willamette Valley Hospice. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter)
Pets bring great comfort and those who know they are facing the end of life may have worries about their beloved pets. The Pet Peace of Mind program provides money and hospice volunteers to help people care for pets when they are no longer able.
Such support allows patients who are on hospice to keep their pets in their homes. The Willamette Valley Hospice raises money for this program at its annual Walk and Wag event, and its seventh annual event took place Saturday, Sept. 14, at Minto-Brown Island Park.
Those arriving for the walk were warmly greeted by volunteers Vern Deplois, Eileen Harder and Emily Curtis. Emily, a graduate student at Oregon State University, was wearing her crown as 2019 Miss Northwestern.
There was a lot of sniffing and just a little bit of barking as hundreds of dogs and their owners viewed booths, participated in dog yoga or showed off some of their best training. Katrina Lovejoy and Kyra Carl informed walkers about the Willamette Humane Society and Pam Wasson shared news from the Lord & Schryver Conservancy, which has a beautiful garden is located at Gaiety Hollow on Mission Street. At almost every booth, dogs could get special treats and owners could buy doggy merchandise.
Brent and Linda DeHart sported their DeHart’s Doggy Daycare shirts and Candice McMaster walked with her English bulldog “George,” who she said was more active than most bulldogs. Sara Wallace walked with her two pugs. Kristin Fox brought her well-behaved husky/German shepherd/chow chow mixed rescue.
Willamette Valley Hospice welcomes support for the Pet Peace of Mind program. Visit here for details or call 503-588-3600.
Emily Curtis, 2019 Miss Northwestern, Eileen Harder and Vern Deplois volunteer at the Walk and Wag for Willamette Valley Hospice on Saturday, Sept. 14. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter)
Candice McMaster and her English Bulldog “George” attend the Walk and Wag for Willamette Valley Hospice on Saturday, Sept. 14. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter)
Pam Wasson represents the Lord & Schryver Conservancy at the Walk and Wag for Willamette Valley Hospice on Saturday, Sept. 14. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter)
Kyra Carl and Katrina Lovejoy represent Willamette Humane Society at the Walk and Wag for Willamette Valley Hospice on Saturday, Sept. 14. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter)
Mary Louise VanNatta is a Salem public relations professional writing a regular column for Salem Reporter. Tell her about your upcoming event at [email protected] or follow her on Facebook.
