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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2009 Crossroads Park, West Des Moines (View Map)
Park Opens & Festivities Begin: 8:30 AM
Walk Begins: 11:00 AM
Join fellow animal lovers on Saturday, September 19, 2009 as they walk for a cause to help save lives! Choose from one of four causes, or walk in memory of a beloved pet, or create one of your own! Learn to Master the Walk, Cesar Millan's way. Bring your faithful companion, or walk alone. (Can't attend? Be a virtual walker by clicking here!)The causes to walk for are:
Help FIGHT Puppy Mills - Iowa is ranked third in the nation for commercial breeding with over 450 facilities currently in operation. You can help us help these dogs and change Iowa's laws to end the suffering.
Help PREVENT Neglect, Abuse & Cruelty - Iowa was recently one of five states involved in the largest dog fighting bust in US history. You can help us put an end to mistreatment, abuse, neglect and cruelty that is inflicted upon these innocent victims.
Help STOP Overpopulation - Each year, 8 million animals enter US Shelters, less than 50% come out alive. Help us end the tragedy of needless deaths to innocent lives by supporting spaying and neutering.
Help RVAS...Save Lives! - Pet owners need help. A whopping 72% of our calls are people looking to relinquish their pet for various reasons. But we find solutions, and produce results with 65% of pet owners keeping their pets because we help them resolve their problems. Help us keep pets in their homes...and save lives.
For you and your dog's safety, the following guidelines must be abided. Please note that water stations are community style.
8:45 am
Mastering the Walk live Demo (Learn how to walk your dog, Cesar Millan's Way!)
All human entrants must register and sign a waiver to participate.
9:00 am
Check In / Registration for Walkers Begins.
Feline Furr-tography Photo Contest Entry Deadline.
Dogs(s) must be current on all vaccinations, including rabies. (No females in heat, intact males or unsocialized dogs allowed)
9:15 am
Contests for Pets & Their People Begin
Dog(s) must be 6 months or older. RVAS reserves the right to remove any dog that is not under control by it's owner, or poses a threat to other dogs and/or individuals.
10:15 am
Mastering the Walk live Demo (Learn how to walk your dog, Cesar Millan's Way!)
No flexi-leashes allowed. Dog(s) must be on a 6' or shorter leash and under control by owner at all times.
10:30 am
Presentation of Awards and Contest Winners
No electric shock, stim, prong, pinch or choke collars allowed. Collars must be secure on the dog and have ID tags.
11:00 am
Walk Begins
No more than 2 dogs per one walker is permitted. Children must be 16 years or older to walk a dog without a guardian.
12:00 pm
RVAS Canine Ambassador, Keena takes a moment to thank everyone for coming. (Paw-tographs will be made available during the event)
No bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades are allowed during the walk. No felines or other animals are allowed at the event. See our Feline Furr-tography Contest.
1:00 pm
Clean up and Tear Down
Please be courteous and pick up after your own dog. Doggy Doo bags will be made available for your convenience.
*Fees after September 12, 2009. Pre-register by September 12, 2009 and receive four FREE Waterbowl Raffle Tickets!
STEP 2 - COLLECT FUNDS
Just ask your friends, family members, co-workers and local businesses if they will support your cause by donating to you directly. They can join you on the walk or sponsor you while you walk.
Fundraise online and personalize your own webpage using our fundraising site. Watch your totals grow, and see who is in the lead. See our "Fun"raising Tips where you can download a fundraising kit to help increase your chances to win!
Increase your funding by being creative. Have a "penny" jar sitting at your desk, have a sale and donate proceeds to your cause, set up a lemonade stand (great for kids), the sky is the limit when it comes to helping animals. Be creative, and most of all, have fun!
Don't want to participate alone? Form a Pack (team)! With you as their Pack Leader you can walk or just fundraise online...either way, you will be saving lives. Grab your Pack Leader Packet here.
Don't forget the prizes you can win, too! Prizes will be given for: Most Funds Raised by an Individual (age Child, Youth & Adult), Most Funds Raised by an Adult Pack & Youth Pack, Most Creative Pack Names and Largest Pack Assembled.
STEP 3 - WALK THE WALK
Join us on Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 11:00 am for the walk. Come with or without a dog. Come early and enjoy the wonderful activities, contests and win prizes!
Be a virtual walker! Can't make the event? Then walk online by creating your own fundraising page and pick your cause!
Or be a volunteer! We have lot's of wonderful opportunities for you to be a part of this event from manning water stations, to being a Walk Master or to help with one of our featured activites. To volunteer contact Julie at paws_4_fun@msn.com.
WIN PRIZES AND MORE...
The animals win when you participate! And you can win, too!
Those who collect the following funding can win:
$100.00 - Free T-shirt
$250.00- T-shirt & Hat
$500.00 - T-shirt & Ceramic Pet Bowl
$750.00 - T-shirt, Hat, Dog Mousepad & Ceramic Pet Bowl
$1,000.00 - Zip Hoodie & Sigg Water Bottle
RVAS reserves the rigth to substitute prizes.
Awards & Prizes will be given for:
Most Funds Raised by an Individual (Child under 12, Youth 12 - 18 & Adult 18 & over)
Most Funds Raised by an Adult Pack
Most Funds Raised by a Youth Pack (12-18)
Most Creative Pack Name
Largest Pack Assembled
And there's more! You and your dog can participate in one of the many contests like Best Tail Wagger, Best Smoocher or have fun with one of our many activities available, like pet portrait's taken, face painting, a doggy style cake walk...and our Waterbowl Raffle, full of wonderful ways to win great prizes!
FELINE FURR-TOGRAPHY CONTEST
Felines Only! - Cats are not allowed at the event, but you can still showcase your feline companion in our photo contest. Click here to learn more!
FELINE FURR-TOGRAPHY PHOTO CONTEST
While your feline can't participate at the actual event, they can participate! Bring your favorite feline photo and enter it into our Feline Furr-tography Photo Contest. Prizes will be awared for first, second and third place and the first place winner will be featured on our website.
Photo Contest Guidelines:
ONE 4 x 6 photo entry per cat is allowed.
Photos must have cat's name, owner's name and telephone number printed legibly on the back of the photo
All entries MUST be submitted at the designated "Feline Furr-tography Photo Contest" Booth no later than 9:00 am on September 19, 2009.
Photos will not be returned to owner.
Winners will be announced at our Awards Ceremony at 10:30 am. (Need not be present to win)
First Place winner wins a featured spot on our website for a month.
Entries can be mailed prior to the event to: RVAS, PO Box 38, Boone, IA 50036.(A confirmation postcard and/or telephone call will be placed to confirm receipt of your photo so make sure a return address is current)
