1st Annual Mutt Strut a Huge Success!

Saturday, October 6, 2007
FDR Park, Philadelphia

We could tell by the smiles and wagging tails that the first annual PAWS Mutt Strut was a wonderful success, but now we have the numbers to prove it! The final tallies are in: more than 400 people came together and raised more than $43,000 for PAWS’ lifesaving activities on behalf of Philadelphia’s homeless, abandoned, and unwanted animals. Thanks to everyone who participated for making it possible, and for demonstraing that saving lives truly is a walk in the park! We're looking forward to having you back in 2008; plans are already underway to make the Mutt Strut bigger and even better.

An online photo gallery of the festivities will be available soon. Please check back often for updates! 

We would like to extend extra special thanks and congratulations to our top fundraisers. By working so hard to get the support of your friends, family, and colleagues, they made a tremendous difference in our lifesaving efforts!

Top 5 Team Fundraisers
1. Team PhilaPets.com - $3,190.00
2. Team Monster Minders - $2,220.00
3. Retired Racers...we were fast - $1,501.00
4. Bark in the park! - $1,275.00
5. Cynthia - In memory of Mickey, my first mutt! - $940.00

Top 5 Individual Fundraisers
1. Michael Spain-Smith - $1,101.00
2. Carrie Maria - $975.00
3. Cynthia Strosser - $940.00
4. Karina Almansa - $914.37
5. Roxanne Gliwa - $835.00

Also, many thanks to our sponsors and partners who added so much to the event by providing education, fun, and services to 2-legged and 4-legged participants alike:

• The Mummers, who kicked things off in grand strutting style.
• “One-Man Band” John Calfield, who provided entertainment throughout the morning.
• Kildare’s, who offered tasty treats for people.
• RA Friedman, who took beautiful pet portraits as a memento of the day (www.studiofocalplane.com).
• Buzzy’s Bow WOW Meow who provided canine treats and tips for strengthening the human-animal bond (www.buzzysbowwowmeow.com).
• Chez Bow Wow Pet Grooming Salon who provided basic grooming services such as nail clipping, ear cleaning, and brushing.
• PhilaPets.com (www.philapets.com), Run Philly Dog Run (www.runphillydogrun.com), and Central Bark Doggy Day Care (www.centralbarkusa.com) who explained how they can help keep your dog well-exercised and cared for on those days when you just can’t do it yourself.
• University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) who hosted an Ask the Vet booth and answered your pet health-related questions and concerns (www.vet.upenn.edu).
• Philadelphia STYLE Magazine (www.phillystylemag.com), who offered insider’s tips on shopping, dining, and what’s happening in Philadelphia!

If you registered for the event and created an online fundraising page, there’s still time to ask for support from those who couldn’t join you! Fundraising pages will remain open for several more weeks. If you registered for the event but haven’t created your personal fundraising page yet, just visit www.firstgiving.com/phillypaws to do so now. Why not take a moment to send friends and family a reminder to support your lifesaving efforts on behalf of Philadelphia’s homeless animals? They can donate in honor or in memory of a furry friend, or you can provide your own inspiration. Either way, all dollars raised will help save the lives of desperate animals who are depending on all of us to fight for them.

Supporting PAWS helps fund lifesaving initiatives including adoption and foster care programs, spay and neuter surgeries, low-cost vaccinations, and other community-based programming, all of which help reduce and will ultimately eliminate the unnecessary killing of Philadelphia's animals. Together, we can make Philadelphia a city where every healthy and treatable pet is guaranteed a home.