Tongues and tails will be wagging like never before when a special charity event hits Lions Park on Saturday. Keep your cats away from the trails when the Second Chance Animal Rescue Society (SCARS) lets the dogs out.
This weekend will see the sixth showing of the Tails on the Trails Pawsathon put on by SCARS. This organization takes the neglected and forgotten animals of northern Alberta and gives them the care and attention that has been missing from their lives. It is not an easy job and if you look at their website, you’ll be able to read some of the stories to understand why it is so important. There’s General, a German shepherd-cross who was found with a leg shot off and his body was filled with pellets. He was saved from a certain death by starvation or other animal attacks because someone was kind enough to call SCARS to help him get three feet solidly on the ground. He’s waiting to be adopted.
Naturally all of the work performed to care for him was neither free nor cheap. The Pawsathon will accomplish a great deal in helping the organization tend to these animals and get them in the hands and homes of people who do care. Since 2002, SCARS has done this more than 2,500 times.
Last year’s event brought in about $25,000 with 125 participants. This year it will have more of a festival atmosphere with vendors and musical entertainment including Westlock’s The Kurt West Express and 16-year-old Edmonton singer Hayley Mandala Morgan.
Troy Trudgeon, director of the organizing committee, explained the situation.
“We rescue roughly 50 dogs a month and we adopt out roughly 50 dogs a month and we’re barely making a dent. We have a problem in northern Alberta and rural areas. There are extreme numbers of dogs that are roaming around that are not getting help. [Domesticated] dogs require humans to survive.”
The group hopes to bring in even more money and attention this year so it has invited members of the public, whether they have a four-legged friend with them or not, to come down to the park to see what it’s all about.
Sixth Annual Tails on the Trails Pawsathon
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.<br />Saturday, July 10<br />Lion's Park<br />All proceeds will go directly to helping animals. <br />Visit www.scarscare.org to learn more.
