If you like raising money for a great cause while spending some quality time with your pet, you won’t want to miss the Calvert Animal Welfare League’s (CAWL)13th annual Pet Walk Sunday, October 29 from 11a.m. – 3 p.m. at Annmarie Garden, a 30-acre public sculpture park in Solomons. The largest fundraiser of the year for the no-kill adoption center will feature fun for humans and pets alike.

Walkers are invited to bring any kind of pet for a leisurely stroll through the garden’s grounds. A minimum pledge of $10 is necessary to participate; however, a pledge of $25 or more gets you a free t-shirt. There is no minimum distance to walk – just enjoy the beautiful garden with your pet. The pet walk will take place rain or shine. Sponsor forms are available on CAWL’s web site (www.cawl.us) or by calling 410.535.9300. Just make sure all of your animals are current on their vaccines and are at least 6 months old. Dogs should remain on leashes, and doggie bags will be available at registration to keep the park clean. Thanks to the help of some 600 participants, last year’s event raised nearly $25,000 to help offset the shelter’s expenses. CAWL is staffed solely by volunteers and receives no public funding.

 

In addition to the walk itself, there will be dozens of vendors, booths filled with food, micro-chipping, demonstrations by a local K-9 unit, golden retriever and greyhound rescue organizations, face painting, a raffle, and the blessing of the animals. And don’t forget to take a minute to check out the dogs and cats currently at the shelter who are in need of a loving home.

If you think you have the laziest, prettiest, or the most playful pet, enter his or her picture in our photo contest and you could be a winner. Simply send your pet’s photo along with an entry form to the Calvert Animal Welfare League at P.O. Box 1660, Prince Frederick, MD 20678. Contest entries will be accepted up until noon on the day of the event. Forms for the photo contest are available on CAWL’s web site or by calling 410.535.9300. Photos will not be returned.

And since this year’s Pet Walk is so close to Halloween, we’re also including a pet costume contest. So bring your pet (and yourself for that matter) dressed up in your most creative costume. You could go home with a prize.

The 13th Annual CAWL Pet Walk kicks off at Annmarie Garden at 11 a.m. rain or shine. For more information on the Calvert Animal Welfare League or this year’s Pet Walk, visit CAWL’s Web site or call 410.535.9300.