The moon won’t be full Sept. 12, but pets and their people are preparing to howl. For the annual Wag ‘n’ Walk, folks will cart their canines to Central Whidbey’s Patmore Pit to frolic for an afternoon of fun and fundraising, sniffing and scratching.
Wag ‘n’ Walk supports the no-kill shelter that houses animals who have been abandoned, lost or surrendered.
FETCH!, Free Exercise Time for Canines and Their Humans, also benefits. FETCH sponsors building and maintaining off-leash dog parks in Island County. Money Wag ’n’ Walk brings in will fund WAIF’s vet and food bills and help purchase needed pet items such as collars, leashes, cages and carriers.
Wag ‘n’ Walk focuses on dogs, but proceeds from the day benefit cats too.
This year, WAIF bursts at the seams with felines.
“We’re overrun with kitties,” Shelter Manager Sheri Bibich said.
Because WAIF houses so many cats, during September WAIF has a two-for-one kitty policy. Adoptive families may receive two felines, along with carriers, for one price.
“We have a huge waiting list for cats to come in (to WAIF),” Bibich said.
Each cat and kitten gets as much attention as volunteers and shelter staff can muster.
“They just want to sit on a lap and get a love,” WAIF volunteer Claire Reed said.
For at least 18 months, cats at WAIF have enjoyed Reed’s ear massages, brushing, combing and cooing. She’s particularly attentive of longtime residents.
She said cats and volunteers become attached.
“It’s great to come in and see who’s not here,” she said.
At WAIF, cats so swamp the place, that some live in dog carriers in halls.
No matter how desperate their space needs are , WAIF insists on matching the right companion with the right family.
Sending any animal home with the wrong family would cause heartache among WAIF staff and the family if a pet was returned.
At WAIF, kittens and puppies find longtime homes readily. Unfortunately, many families discover a high-spirited puppy becomes a high-spirited dog.
“We see so many dogs at WAIF because people didn’t know anything about dogs — or the breed,” Bibich said. “People could easily go to the library or online to find out about dogs.”
To prevent people giving up their companions, WAIF matches animals carefully with adoptive families.
“People adopt young animals quickly,” Bibich said. “But older animals are the shelter’s treasures.”
Wag ’n’ Walk supports animals from WAIF’s shelter treasures to new arrivals to dogs who romp in FETCH!’s parks.
Almost home
Angus arrived at WAIF Aug. 28. If fate allows, he’ll be at home in Bellevue before Sept. 12. Lou Kovitz and Bobbie Maletta drove up to meet a WAIF doggie Sept. 2.
“We’re Whidbey Island wannabes,” Kovitz and Maletta said. “We spend almost every weekend on Whidbey Island.”
They donate to WAIF’s Freeland thrift shop regularly. And they hope to purchase a home on Whidbey soon.
When they decided to adopt a dog, they couldn’t resist Whidbey Island.
“I need to get my camera,” Kovitz said. “We told our friends we would adopt a Labrador.”
Five-month-old Angus may possess a Lab’s exhuberance, but he lacks the black coat and webbed feet. Instead, Angus’ light brown rippling coat hides his eyes but not his flapping pink tongue.
“We can’t wait to get him home,” they said.
The couple will collect Angus after he’s been neutered. WAIF doesn’t send animals to new homes until each animal has been altered.
WAIF insists on a stringent spaying and neutering policy. Without it, the cat and dog, kit- and pup-ulation would explode in astronomical proportions.
Mark the date
The fifth annual Wag n’ Walk Festival roams Patmore Pit Sunday, Sept. 12. Wag n’ Walk is hosted by WAIF and FETCH! (Free Exercise Time for Canines and Their Humans). Wag n’ Walk runs from noon to 4 p.m. Admission to the festival is free, but collecting pledges is encouraged. With a pledge of $25, dogs can walk their people in the pledge parade and enter contests including the 50-yard dash Fun Run. and Wag n’ Walk’s American Idol contest. People with less than the minimum pledge can enter the contests for a flat fee of $5. Pledge forms can be downloaded from www.waifanimals.org/wnw.asp Businesses, organizations and individuals may sponsor the Wag n’ Walk at $100, $250, $500 and $1,000 levels. Call 679-0706 or e-mail waifdev@whidbey.net. Last year’s Wag n’ Walk raised more than $10,000. Patmore Pit is south of Coupeville. From Highway 20, turn west on Patmore Road. Look for the entrance on the left. Go to www.waifanimals.org
