The 14th Annual Walk for the Animals and Bark in the Park a record-breaker raising $30,000 for the Animals in the care of the Animal Rescue League-North

The Animal Rescue League of NH-North held the 14th Annual Walk for the Animals and Bark in the Park in Schouler Park on Saturday, September 24. Beginning with the Walk for the Animals, the event brought hundreds of dogs and their owners to the park amid warm temperatures and clearing skies.

Over 120 walkers registered this year, and both individual categories and teams were represented. The team competition was intense between the Tarbell Terriers, Paws for a Cause and Friends of Furries. The three top teams took turns taking the lead right up to event day, and just when it looked like Paws for a Cause had it clinched the Tarbell Terriers raced to first place with a record-breaking $5238.31. Paws for a Cause came in second with a whopping $4768.14 and not too far behind was the Friends of Furries team bringing in $4179.15. Top individual fundraisers were Linda Little with $1735.42 in first, Jayne Geddes with $919.54 in second and third place went to Andrea Averill with $489.00. The overall total for the walk alone was $26,351. After expenses the money raised for the animals totals over $30,000. Carnival games, raffles, vendors and demos rounded out the day’s festivities.

Thank you to lead sponsor Natura Pet Foods and Top Dog Sponsor Adventure Suites. Many thanks also to all of the event sponsors, volunteers and participants for a fun and successful event, making this the biggest Bark ever.

ARLNH-North is a nonprofit, all-inclusive animal resource center dedicated to the human/animal bond — Encouraging it through animal adoption and education; Protecting it when threatened by violence, disaster or emergency; and Respecting it when broken by death. For more information, please visit the shelter online at conwayshelter.org or call 603-447-5605.

Photo caption: Paws for A Cause, 2nd place team in the Walk for the Animals, pauses for a photo in Schouler Park. Pictured left to right: Alex and Meg Hamlin with Sedona and Cleveland, Amanda and Doug Heller w/baby Celia, Baby Jack with Josh and Aly McAllister and dogs Fenway and Tessie, and Beth and Kevin Hamlin with Zoe.