[PET OHANA]
HAWAIIAN HUMANE SOCIETY PHOTO
John Magin and Fritz will be part of the Tripler Human Animal Bond "pack" at Sunday's PetWalk. The Magins adopted the 7-year-old long-haired dachshund mix from the Hawaiian Humane Society.
There is only one day each year when animals are allowed in Kapiolani Park, when more than a thousand people and hundreds of dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and mice gather together for fun in the sun. That day is this Sunday, when PetWalk, an annual Hawaiian Humane Society benefit, gets under way at 8 a.m. Benefit walk turns park
into a pet’s playgroundHawaiian Humane Society
hawaiianhumane.orgPaige and Dominic Nobriga attended last year's PetWalk with their poi dog Roxy on a leash and two mice in a red wagon. The Lebb family walked three dogs and raised more than $300 in pledges, and little Megan Amaki brought her cat after raising $65 in pledges.
"There is no other event in Hawaii that compares," said Humane Society President Pamela Burns. "It's friendly and fun, but best of all, these people and their pets are raising money to help homeless animals."
One of the event's youngest supporters is Raquel Guss, who walked last year with her dog Sabrina after raising $351.23. Raquel's birthday wish each year was to visit the animals at the Humane Society. Sabrina, a Shih Tzu, was Raquel's birthday gift when she turned 9. Now 13, Raquel donated money for a stepping stone in the society's garden in honor of her bat mitzvah, dedicated to her "furry friends." She hopes to volunteer at the society when she turns 14, minimum volunteer age.
"Raquel is one of our younger ardent animal lovers," said Burns. "And then there's Marianne and Scott Schultz, who have raised more than $9,000 over the years at PetWalk time. Their dog Maggie 'begs' via e-mail from friends all over the USA. They were the top PetWalk fund-raisers last year and led the group around as 'Leader of the Pack.'"
The Schultzes also had a birthday party for Maggie, with presents going to dogs being cared for by the Humane Society. The couple's 20-year wedding anniversary is in July, and their party will benefit the society and the Hawaii Food Bank.
New this year are PetWalk "packs" comprising four or more walkers and their pets. About 20 people from Ernst & Young have formed a pack. Another pack, named "Woof Woof Walkers," is led by Karen Tsugawa with friends, co-workers and their pets.
The human and canine pet visitation volunteers from Tripler have formed another pack and will all be in "uniform" at PetWalk. You can recognize the dogs by their bandannas and Red Cross badges earned through extensive training.
John and Judy Magin's dog Fritz, "Tripler Human Animal Bond" pack, was adopted from the Humane Society.
"Fritz was a lost dog who we found and then adopted several years ago," said Judy Magin. "He is a wonderful soul who has true empathy for the patients we visit. He gets right up on the bed and enjoys every bit of the attention. All these animals give so much more than they get."
"You don't have to bring a pet to enjoy PetWalk," Burns said. "The nose-to-nose greetings are great fun to watch, and then there's the pet costume contest, which everyone loves. We are very grateful that so many people and pets come together to benefit animals in need."
"Pet Ohana" runs first and third Fridays each month. The Hawaiian Humane Society, a nonprofit agency dedicated to preventing cruelty to animals, is at 2700 Waialae Ave. Call 946-2187.
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