4th Annual Downtown Waynesville Dog Walk Set for August 8
Press Release
6/30/09 Cynthia Morris

Sarge's Animal Rescue Foundation will host the 4th Annual Downtown Waynesville Dog Walk on Saturday, August 8, at 10:00am.

The walk will begin at the Haywood County Courthouse; proceed to Depot Street, left onto Montgomery Street, left onto Church Street, back to Main Street and return to the Courthouse lawn.

Then the games begin. In a streamlined format, among this year's contests will be Best Dressed, Best Kisser and Most Talented. Jeanne Naber will be the contest hostess and will keep the action moving. There will be prizes for the participants in each contest.

Tammy Watford, WLOS-TV, Channel 13 News Anchor, will return as a contest judge and Watford's dog Rocky will help to lead the dog walk parade. Watford's co-judge will be announced soon.

The 99.9 Kiss Country morning crew, Eddie Foxx and Sharon Green will be greeting their fans who registered to walk their dog(s) and who collected "partner" donations.

Registration forms are available at The Dog House, 304 N. Haywood Street in Waynesville, local area animal hospitals in Waynesville, Clyde and Canton and at Sarge's headquarters at 1659 S. Main Street in Waynesville or receive a form in the mail by calling 246-9050.

Pre-registration will be on Thursday-Friday, August 6-7, from Noon-6:00pm at Sarge's office.

Walkers will turn in their registration forms and $15 fee for each dog to be walked . They will receive their Goody Bags and their dog's bandanas.

In order to receive a free Official Downtown Dogwalk t-shirt, the registered walker will need to have collected at least an additional $15 in "partner" money. T-shirts will also be on sale at the pre-registration and at the Dog Walk.



Aidan & Angela McGary lead the 2008 dog walk

Each registration form includes a Partners' Pledge List. There will be a grand prize for the person who collects the most money from their "partners."

"In addition to business sponsors, Sarge's is giving individuals an opportunity to be a sponsor this year," said Steve Hewitt, event co-chairman. "For a minimum $125 sponsorship, one can have the name of their pet printed on the back of the Dog Walk t-shirt or have an 'in memoriam' name printed there." To receive a sponsorship form, call Sarge's at 246-9050 or stop by 1659 S. Main Street in West Waynesville.

Blue Ridge Books & Café will be the Dog Walk Premiere Sponsor for 2009. Platinum Sponsors committed to date are The Mountaineer and Clear Channel Radio's 99.9 Kiss Country /am1400The PeaK/Rock104.9.

Pre-registration is highly recommended but walkers can register at the Courthouse on August 8 at 9:15am.

"Not only will everyone have a great time at the Dog Walk," said Jim Ray, event co-chairman, "but it will also be an important opportunity for folks to learn how they can become part of Sarge's volunteer network."