At Paws Walk Sunday, Saving Lives Is A Walk In The Park

STRATHAM, NH — This Sunday, June 1, the New Hampshire SPCA will host their annual Paws Walk at Stratham Hill Park.

This dog-friendly event, presented by Top Dog Sponsors Walmart Region 16 and ICL Autos, and Cool Cat Sponsors Greenland Veterinary Hospital and Murphy, Powers & Wilson CPAs, directly benefits homeless animals, providing lifesaving care, medical treatment, and other support services. With just a few days until the event, the NHSPCA is urgently calling on the community to help them reach their $130,000 goal by attending the event or donating to the cause.

The success of Paws Walk comes directly from generous, local animal lovers, who register to walk and raise critical funds through their own network. This event is the NHSPCA’s most important community fundraiser, responsible for giving a second chance to thousands of unwanted, neglected, and abused pets each year. One of these pets is Frankie, a one-year-old dog who’s awaiting life-changing surgery.

Frankie and his brother Sammy were transported to the NHSPCA from an overcrowded shelter in Texas. Once in the care of the NHSPCA, Sammy was quickly adopted but it became clear that Frankie was in significant pain, despite his playful demeanor. He was resistant to having his hips extended, and one of his hind legs was clearly weaker than the other. After an evaluation and X-Rays taken by the NHSPCA Veterinary team, it was determined that Frankie needed a specialized surgery called FHO (Femoral Head Ostectomy), where part of the hip joint is removed to relieve pain and help restore mobility.

Frankie is currently at the NHSPCA, awaiting this surgery that will give him the chance of a pain-free, active life. His second chance is made possible by Paws Walk and the generosity of our community. To help this event succeed and generate even more support for animals like Frankie, a generous, anonymous donor is matching donations and registrations to Paws Walk, up to $5,000, now through June 1.

On top of the critical fundraising, Paws Walk will be a day of fun with MC Kelly Brown of iHeartMedia’s The Morning Buzz and music by DJ Lori D. Before and after the fundraising walk, participants can shop for local goods and enjoy food truck treats in the vendor village, watch talented dogs in action from the New England Agility Team, Working Dog Foundation/Rochester PD, Brentwood PD, a herding dog demo by Heart Stone Farm, and experience the best of the NHSPCA - there’ll be farm animals, children’s activities, and adoptable dogs looking for their forever home!

“Paws Walk is wonderful event that brings out the best of our community, and most importantly it’s a critical fundraiser,” Sheila Ryan, senior vice president of philanthropy at the New Hampshire SPCA, said. “At the NHSPCA, we see many homeless animals like Frankie, who have debilitating medical needs. Luckily, our facility has a state-of-the-art Veterinary Center and extremely dedicated veterinary and animal care teams. The money raised at Paws Walk allows us to provide adoption, lifesaving medical services, and much more. We’re excited to have a dollar-for-dollar matching gift opportunity happening now through June 1 and are grateful for everyone who can support these efforts.”

To learn more about or donate to Paws Walk, visit https://nhspca.org/paws-walk/. On-site registration will be available on June 1 at Stratham Hill Park. Adults are $35 and Youth are $25.

About the New Hampshire SPCA

In addition to sheltering services, the New Hampshire SPCA has an award-winning humane education department, a devoted cruelty investigation department and a myriad of behavior and training classes for owners and their pets, and safety net and veterinary services.. The New Hampshire SPCA is an open admission, unlimited stay facility and has an innovative transfer program that has given dogs from around the country a second chance at finding a forever home and helps fill a need for wonderful pets for the people here in our community.

The NHSPCA is a non-profit organization (501c3) serving over 121 communities in the Greater Seacoast of New Hampshire, southern Maine and northern Massachusetts. We receive no federal, state, or affiliate agency funding and rely solely on community support to care for the thousands of animals that come through our doors each year.

The mission of the New Hampshire SPCA is to save the lives of companion animals through rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption; to promote learning, eliminate animal cruelty and be a leader in advancing the highest standards of animal welfare.

Submitted by New Hampshire SPCA