Have a doggone good time fighting cancer at Bear Mountain
Bear Mountain Dogs of all ages, colors, shapes and sizes are invited to bring their owners and meet other dogs at the American Cancer Society’s Annual Dogswalk Against Cancer, beginning at 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 6, at Bear Mountain State Park. Take that favorite owner for a stroll around Hessian Lake with hundreds of dogs, while enjoying the sights sounds and smells of the park. Dogswalk Against Cancer is a non-competitive walk-a-thon for hundreds of Hudson Valley dogs and their families. This year’s event will honor “Positive Paws - Visiting Pets,” who will be represented by canines who listen to children read aloud. The sponsors of this year’s walk are Advanced Veterinary Cancer Care Center of Newburgh, New York and WHUD-100.7 FM. The money raised by the participants in dogswalk supports the programs of the American Cancer Society and provides a special grant to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. “This is a great way to spend the day in a beautiful natural setting, with other dog lovers, walking for a great cause,” said Beverly Finnegan, regional vice president of the American Cancer Society. “Last year, we raised more than $107,000 and more than 860 dogs and 1,800 humans joined in the fun to raise money for the American Cancer Society’s research, education, advocacy and local patient service programs.” Various fun activities are scheduled from 10 a.m. until noon, including contests such as “Shortest Dog,” “Tallest Dog,” “Best Tail-Wagging Dog,” “Best Dog Trick,” and “Best Dog Costume.” Pre-event registration, which closes at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 4, is $25 per canine. Registrants will receive a special gift in their goody bag. Register online at www.cancer.org/nydogswalk. Registration may also be completed by mailing or faxing the registration form included with the dogswalk brochure. Registration on the day of the walk is $35 per dog. Registration will take place between 8 and 9 a.m., rain or shine, next to the carousel near the Bear Mountain Park Inn. For more information and a brochure about dogswalk Against Cancer, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org/nydogswalk.