STEVENS POINT, Wis. (WSAU) — One of the major fundraisers for the Humane Society of Portage County was a success, even though it was raining. The Walk for Wags was based at Pfiffner Pioneer Park in Stevens Point, and brought many families and their dogs out for the midday activities, walk, and lunch.
Delores Glytas from the Humane Society says Walk for Wags is one of several events that raise money to run the animal shelter. “I know what we need at the shelter, and how much this is a huge asset to our shelter because we rely on the community for their donations.”
The Humane Society of Portage County’s animal shelter was built nearly 9 years ago, and is full most of the time. Glytas says that means it takes a lot of donations to care for the many cats and dogs that come in. “There’s a lot that goes into it, both with the running of the shelter, (and) the medical care for all of the animals that come in. Everybody is spayed and neutered when they go out the door, so that’s a big medical charge for us, all of their medications and things like that.”
Walk for Wags attendance was down a bit Sunday due to the rain, but the park shelter was full of pets and people having a good time. Glytas says this one event is successful, but still accounts for less than 1/4th of the shelter’s annual budget. “I wish we could guarantee an amount coming in every year, but we can’t, so this is where we have to beef up other fundraisers that we have or just put out a petition to the community.”
The shelter takes donations anytime of year, and the donations can be money or pet food and supplies. “We take in dog food, any and all kinds of medical supplies, anything that you know. If you have extra blankets, you know, beds and everything else for us, please contact us, bring it on down. You know we also have a ‘fill the van’ all the time at some of the local grocery stores around, so if people can purchase necessary items. fill the van right there, they don’t even have to bother coming down to the shelter.”
The Humane Society of Portage County’s website has more information about their various fundraisers, or you can call 715-344-6012.
(Listen to our interview with Delores Glytas from the Walk for Wags event/Humane Society of Portage County on our website, here.)
