On Saturday, June 7, you can take your dog on a leisurely walk, get your steps in, listen to good music, and have a chance to win some great prizes — all while supporting vulnerable animals in the community.
The Lakefield Animal Welfare Society (LAWS) will be hosting its second annual “Doggie Dash,” a community dog walk at Isabel Morris Park in Selwyn that will raise essential operational funds for the shelter.
Participants will have the option of joining the 1.5 or 2.5 kilometre walk around the town, beginning at 1 p.m., with registration opening at 12 p.m. The walk will be followed by a social in the park featuring live music, local food and retail vendors, and lots of prizes.
“Last year was great and this year it’s going to be even better,” says Lyndsay Lisson-De Ell, director of operations at LAWS. “We’re really looking forward to more vendors, more food trucks, more participants, and just getting the community out and celebrating the amazing work that people do here.”
With just a handful of paid staff, LAWS has relied on the kindness of the community to run the small non-profit organization for more than 30 years. The no-kill shelter has capacity for about 50 cats and seven dogs and works with experienced volunteers to foster the pets until the shelter can find homes for even the difficult-to-place animals without government funding.
“(The community) funds everything from food, vaccines, spay/neuter, community education programs — because we’ve been in schools this year talking about responsible, respectful pet ownership — and supplies for our fosters,” Lisson-De Ell says. “Everything that the animals needs while in our care comes from community donations, so this event funds everything that happens for these guys for the rest of the year.”
First held in 2024, the Doggie Dash is one of the largest fundraisers the shelter hosts and it has become even more crucial with the recent increase of animals being surrendered. Lisson-De Ell says LAWS is frequently at capacity.
“I think because of the pandemic and because of the economic climate right now, it’s tough out there for people,” she explains. “Veterinary care is tough and it’s hard to access for a lot of folks for various reasons and food is expensive too. We are seeing a huge rise in animals being surrendered due to people being unhoused or under housed, so we are almost always full, and we almost always have a waitlist.”
She adds that the rising living costs also affect the amount of donations, both financial and food, LAWS has received in recent years.
“We do our best,” she says. “We don’t take in animals we don’t have space for so we can only function within the space that we have, but there’s a relentless demand for our services.”
With fewer community members being able to support their own pets, there has been an increase in interest and participation from volunteers fosters, which helps the shelter take in more animals.
“It’s a great way for people to spend time with animals when maybe they can’t take on an animal long term,” she says. “We provide food and supplies for all our fosters, so they just have to give their love, their homes, and their care, which is just the most important thing, and we provide the rest.”
Given the rising demand of services, LAWS is aiming to raise $15,000 — nearly double the $8,000 raised last year — through this year’s Doggie Dash.
Participants can sign up to walk and raise funds individually or they can sign up as a team with co-workers, friends, or family. To join the walk, each participant must raise a minimum of $100.
Lisson-De Ell is encouraging friendly competition between teams, and notes that participants do not need to have a dog with them to participate.
“It’s a great way to get community together,” she says. “Lakefield is such an amazing community, and I think we get forgotten about sometimes. So it’s nice to get the community walking through local businesses (and) draw attention to what Lakefield has to offer. People bringing their dogs and being able to have an animal-human friendly event is the best.”
After the walks through Lakefield, participants can return to the park where there will be live music from Peterborough vocalist, guitarist, and woodwind player Sean Hully. They will also be able to get tasty treats — for both humans and furry companions — and shop from vendors including Ghost Taco, The Vine, The Doggery, Costco, Dog E Den, Precious Paws Pet Services, and many more.
Between a silent auction, registration prizes, and prizes for teams who raise the most money, there will be no shortage of opportunities for great gifts including Blue Jays tickets, golf passes, and gift cards or other prizes from Asta Hairstyling School, Jesse’s Tap and Grill, 100 Acre Brewing Company, The Grape and Wedge, Pizza Alloro, Primrose Cottage Kawartha, Penny and Pip, and many more.
“It’s a really great way for community to all come together for an amazing cause, so we’re really looking forward to just seeing everyone there and enjoying an amazing afternoon celebrating animals,” Lisson-De Ell says. “I can’t imagine a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than hanging out, eating good food, and being with my dog.”
To register for or donate to the Doggie Dash, visit www.lakefieldanimalwelfare.org/doggiedash.
