Let your dogs take you for a walk on Mother’s Day

Monday, May 5, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Thinking about taking your dog for a walk on Mother's Day? How about a five kilometer morning jaunt with a whole bunch of other furry friends?

The Las Vegas Valley Humane Society is sponsoring its first Wag-a-Tail Walk-a-thon featuring hundreds of pet owners and their dogs walking a course at Summerlin's Hills Park to raise money to spay/neuter and rescue animals.

"This is not a race or competition, but more of an easy stroll in a lovely setting," said Judith Ruiz, president of the Las Vegas Valley Humane Society, a no-kill organization which last year rescued about 3,000 animals and adopted out more than 1,000.

"Walking is great exercise for both people and pets, and there will be plenty of rest stops, water stops and even little plastic pools filled with water to cool off along the way."

And, the event, which closes out the nationwide "Be Kind to Animals Week," begins at 8 a.m., when conditions are cool and ends well before the heat of the day. Registration begins at 7 a.m.

On the day of the event, it will cost $20 to enter. Each participant receives a T-shirt, raffle tickets, sample dog food and refreshments.

Registration forms for the event can be picked up at Petco and Petsmart stores. There will be a $5 deduction in entrance fees for forms received by today.

Event organizers recommend that participants leave their cats, puppies and exotic animals home. And all dogs must be on leashes and kept under control.

Participants also are required to stop and pick up after their animals. However, event organizers will provide the bags.

"Proceeds will be used to provide shelter, food, medical care or low cost spays and neuters for homeless animals in Clark County," said Ruiz, noting it costs $40 to adopt a cat and $60 to adopt a dog from her organization.

"Believe me, we lose money on every adoption because it costs a lot more to spay/neuter, feed and house the animals while we are looking for a home."

Practicing the no-kill philosophy is a double-edged sword for Ruiz's "animal protection group" (they dislike the term "animal rights organization" because it has over the years developed a negative connotation comparable to "animal nuts").

Not only must the humane society deal with the thousands of unwanted and abandoned pets in the valley, the organization also is bombarded by irresponsible pet owners who drop off pets simply because it will ease their conscience that they won't be put to sleep, like at a pound.

The only circumstances under which the Las Vegas Valley Humane Society puts animals to sleep is if they are unsuitable as pets -- biters, for example -- or are terminally ill. Just 10-15 animals fit that category last year.

However, because many pet owners do not spay and neuter their animals, Las Vegas and Clark County pounds had no choice but to put to death about 20,000 of their unwanted offspring last year.

Both the traditional shelters and the no-kill organizations, though rivals for donations and adoption dollars, experience many of the same problems, including the difficult task of adopting out larger dogs.

"It is more difficult with the larger animals, but we keep them in foster homes throughout the valley and board them at area vets until a suitable home can be found," Ruiz said.

She notes that no foster home houses more than the six canines allowed under dog fanciers licenses in the city and county.

"Proceeds from the event also will be used to help educate the public about reducing animal overpopulation via neutering and spaying," Ruiz said.

She noted that the event also is "a celebration of the unconditional love" pets display for their owners.

Following the walk-a-thon at about 10:30 a.m. entertainment will be provided by the Sign Design Theatre, a troupe of deaf children who lip sync and dance to recorded music.

Other planned entertainment includes Flying Colors, a dog fly ball team, and a demonstration by the Metro K-9 unit.

Also, participants receive free "mothers and mutts" photos.

Sponsors for the event include Trader Joe's, Petco, Oasis Gateway Apartments, Lawyers Title of Nevada, Starbucks, Pecos Windmill Water Store, Ocean Spray, Bagel Oasis, TCBY Yogurt, Bagel Bagel, Kerr McGee, Channel 13, Saturn, Bruegger's Bagel Bakery, Costco, Keepers of the Wild, and Howard Hughes Corp./Summerlin.

For more information, call the humane society office at 434-2009.