Dog jog set for Founders Days

Dog jog

A Branch of the Beulah Burman Memorial Animal Shelter Society, Pet Projects is inviting people in the area to the 2nd Annual Dog Jog being held at Guild Hall behind Cox’s Warehouse, Dock Street on July 21, at 11:30 am as part of the Founder’s Day Celebrations.

Money raised through getting sponsors and walking your dog goes directly towards our Shelburne County Spay Neuter Program and helping abandoned, sick and abused animals throughout the County.

“The Dog Jog is our number one fundraiser. Last year 50 caring people raised $1,874 that went directly into helping animals,” said Shelly Hipson, member of the PET Projects Team.

Total money raised for 2006 was $8,886. With that money 106 abandoned animals received care and found homes and a Shelburne County Spay/Neuter Program was created. Eighty-six pets were “fixed” and dozens of stray animals received vet care.

“The community support has been amazing,” said Hipson.

Even though the Beulah Burman Memorial Animal Shelter (BBMASS) has not reopened, PET Projects volunteers have been active in helping “One Animal at a Time.”

The group agrees that to raise $40,000 - $60,000 to operate a shelter each and every year will be challenging. In the meantime PET Projects is fostering animals with caring people until we find them a suitable home. Homeless animals are featured in The Coast Guard thanks to The Atlantic Superstore, on Eastlink Cable and on their website at www.petprojects.petfinder.com.

“We do our best to try and ease the pain and suffering of animals in the County but ultimately people have to be responsible pet owners. If people took care of their pets we wouldn’t need a shelter, said Hipson.