I stopped in one of the local chain pharmacies the other day to purchase a birthday card.

Not knowing for certain where they are located these days, I turned a corner and found myself right smack in the middle of Halloween stuff.

Hold on. It can't be Halloween yet. Halloween means darkness before 7, cold rains, a few snow flurries.

Hey, I haven't sat out on the back deck yet. I haven't hiked down to the creek to go wading. I've only gone swimming in Lake Erie once.

Halloween? Why that is just a jump away from Thanksgiving, which is almost Christmas, which is another term for New Year's. Can it be 2010 already? Is the great Y2k debacle a decade old?

All right, maybe I can getting ahead of myself a bit. But I guess getting ready for Halloween isn't too far fetched, although I can't imagine people spending money on ghost costumes or candy corn just yet.

But I can relate because right around Halloween is the Boo Wow Walk, the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Ashtabula County Animal Protective League.

It's the APL that takes in orphaned dogs and cats, neuters them, gives them shots and attempts to adopt them out.

I'm pretty familiar with the APL. It was four years ago this month I started visiting the animals there, taking energy-filled pooches on couple-of-mile runs.

Lots has changed and lots has stayed the same since I first visited the APL in August 2005 to expand my running regime to my four-legged friends (although on more than one occasion, I've taken three-legged pooches out, one of whom I didn't even notice the missing leg until the second mile of our journey.)

The APL has had about six dozen directors in that time although there is a core of animal lovers who have worked there for many years.

There is never a shortage of homeless animals. There is never a shortage of idiot humans who don't care for their pets. There is never a shortage of needs.

Virtually every year, despite vigilance, there is a parvovirus outbreak, a horrible and contagious disease that usually targets younger dogs and puppies. During these times, the APL must obtain massive amounts of bleach and other cleansers to wash walls and floors to get rid of the virus. It usually means the facility is closed up to two weeks. During that time, people must be paid, animals must be fed, utilities must be paid, extra cleansers must be bought, animals must continued to be accepted but no dogs go out. The only income comes from unaffected cats being adopted..

This year has been an exception to the annual parvo outbreak. Last week the APL suffered its second parvo outbreak of the year, making the financial crisis there more desperate.

Each year there's a few episodes in which someone with a house full of cats or dogs surrenders them, adding to the APL overcrowding and expense.

It isn't all negative. The dogs, despite being penned up for sometimes months, on occasion years, remain happy and fun loving.

When real needs arise, the public comes through with donations of money, cleaning supplies, toys and more.

The recession was in full swing during Boo Wow Walk 2008 and despite the big crowd of supporters, it raised less money than the year before. Yet the needs remain.

So it is no surprise there have already been several meetings to plan this year's big walk. Last year, my Star Beacon colleague and fellow animal lover Margie Trax Page stepped in to direct the walk when the person who handled it for years stepped down. Margie has also handled the APL side of the Garage Sale Bonanza at the Saybrook Plaza and this year's first pet expo at Ashtabula Towne Square. I'm not certain if the expo was held primarily to raise money or to have pies thrown in my face.

Margie and many others work hard to keep the APL going. It certainly could not survive on what it gets from the adoption of animals and what municipalities and county pay.

It would be nice if the APL wasn't necessary. If everyone was a responsible pet owner, it wouldn't be.

The Boo Wow Walk will be coming up before you know it. Think about participating or at least helping someone who is participating as a sponsor.

Not only is this my fourth year running with the dogs, it will be my fourth walk. My beagle Casey is a 1994 APL graduate. In past years she has picked up the pace and did the walk despite her advanced age.

This year Casey's back legs aren't too strong. She may require a wagon or cart, but I know she will want to be there.

So be thinking about your participation in the walk.

Lost your job or had hours reduced? If you can't donate dollars, donate time at the APL. Take dogs for walks. Socialize with dogs and cats. Pitch in where needed.

I might work up a really gross sweat while out at the APL, running up and down Green Road in Kingsville with a couple of dogs on the leash. But when I leave, I may have given six dogs some fun. Unfortunately there are many, many more I can't give that attention to. Fortunately, there are many more who help with dogs.

There are older dogs who would just as soon take a short walk and sniff the air then be involved in a vigorous run. There are scared dogs and cats who need some kind words and be shown people can be kind.

So help out while where you can. More information on the Boo Wow Walk will be coming out in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, I have to sit on the back deck before winter sets in.

Lebzelter is special sections editor. E-mail him at bobleb@starbeacon.com. Read past columns at bobleb.blogspot.com.