Dog walkers support shelter
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POLSON — The Mission Valley Animal Shelter’s annual Doggy Dash fundraiser had the dogs out in full force Saturday morning. Pets and their owners gathered bright and early at the Travis Dolphin Dog Park to walk — or run — a three-mile course through Polson. Seventeen people collected pledges for donations to the animal shelter, MVAS board member Jackie Smart said.
“We’ll probably hit real close to $4,000, which is really good,” she said.
Eunice Maher of Polson, a long-time MVAS supporter, was the top fundraiser this year.
“She and her dog Skye have walked the last 10 years or more,” Smart said.
Doggy Dash is the major fundraiser each year for the nonprofit Mission Valley Animal Shelter, which became a no-kill shelter last year. The shelter is one of two privately-funded animal shelters in Montana, and is supported solely by donations and fees, with no governmental, state, county or municipal funds. All the money raised through Doggy Dash goes directly to the shelter “to pay the bills,” Smart said.
Unfortunately, the money must also replace $2,000 stolen from the shelter’s thrift store, Seconds 2 Go. Burglars stole the safe from the store last week, MVAS director Alan Fryslie said, and the robbery is still under investigation.
Following the Doggy Dash pledge walk, a pet/owner look-a-like contest and best kisser competition were held at the dog park, with Jackie Ladner and her poodle Jesse named the look-a-like winners, and Shannon Battista and Kimber taking the best kisser title.
