Pet Project Foundation president Sue Walsh estimated that the 16th annual Wag-A-Thon raised $55,000 at the Dana Point Harbor island on Saturday, money that benefits the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter. The Foundation had worried that tough economic times might impact attendance for the event. Walsh happily reported Monday that it did not.
“I would say we had about 1,500 to 2,000 people and probably 1,000 dogs,” she said. “We were pleasantly surprised by the turnout. It just proved to us that people don’t want to listen to the gloom and doom and they want to get out there with their pets and families.”
The Pet Project Foundation donates more than $300,000 and tens of thousands of volunteer hours to the Animal Shelter annually, paying for everything from medical care to training for abandoned South County pets. The Wag-A-Thon is the Foundation’s biggest fundraiser of the year.
Below are just a few of the pooches at this year’s event.
Lauri Julian of Laguna Beach holds Chloe, a 6-year-old Chihuahua wearing a cheerleader costume. R.H. Dana apparently snuck into the background.
Sassy is a 2-year-old Great Dane, adopted from the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter by Sydney and Stuart Hardie of San Clemente. Sassy was easily one of the biggest dogs at this year's Wag-A-Thon.
Avoc, 4, is a German Shepherd/Lab mix. He lives in Placentia with his owner, Hiro Yamane. Yes, he's a bee.
