Walk offers food, fun for animals, owners

Mason, a 4-year-old English Sheepdog lying among bright green tennis balls, just couldn't bring himself to leave the wading pool on a warm October afternoon. \nBut at the 10th annual Walk for the Animals Sunday at Third Street Park, there were plenty of other activities in which Mason and other dogs could participate. Four-legged participants of all shapes and sizes led their owners around to various events, including an agility area where dogs could weave through poles, climb on a seesaw and jump over a hurdle, the "Doggie Dash" obstacle course and a walk to downtown Bloomington. \nSeveral local organizations set up informational booths for human participants. Leslie Ems, founder of Flying Paws Agility, opened her business just last month. She said she hoped to generate more awareness for Flying Paws and increase the regular class attendance to five or six dogs. \n"I'm doing it because I enjoy it," she said. "I'm trying to get more people involved."\nNathalie Demeyenburg staffed the table for EquiLibrium Sport and Therapy Massage. She said her business is for people, dogs and horses and focuses on the rehabilitation and injury prevention aspect of massage. \n"(Massage) has all the benefits for an animal as a human," she said. "Some people see it as a spa thing. The way I see it, it isn't."\nPeople and Animal Learning Services, a non-profit therapeutic horseback riding program for children with disabilities, was also represented at the event. Jan Gavin, a volunteer for PALS, said the organization was founded in 2000 and already there's a waiting list for those wanting to ride. She said PALS is also working on implementing a dog-assisted therapy program.\nMonroe County Humane Association intern Duncan Earle, perched atop a dunk tank, sat patiently waiting for participants to pay $1 for three chances at sending him into his own wading pool. \n"I'm a nice guy, just give them $1 and leave," a completely dry Earle said. "I'll jump in for $10."\nTwo throws later, Earle was wet.\nSarah Haynes, executive director of the Monroe County Humane Association, said the Walk for the Animals is the organization's biggest fund-raiser. Those who participated in the walk were asked to raise $100 toward the event goal of $15,000. \nHaynes said several events were new this year, including the Cheeseburger in Paradise food booth, the dunk tank, the wading pools that Mason and so many other dogs enjoyed, the Kids Zone with face painting and games, and the play area where dogs ran around sans leash. \nTopping off the day, participants lined up for a walk from the park to downtown Bloomington and back. From the looks of the post-walk panting tongues and wagging tails, this year's event was a success.