By MARGIE TRAX PAGE - Staff Writer - mtrax@starbeacon.com
AUSTINBURG TOWNSHIP — Antennae awry and dressed in a fuzzy caterpillar costume, Schnitzel the daschund felt ridiculous.
Appropriately, he looked ridiculous.
Dogs of all sizes, breeds and colors brought their owners to the Ashtabula County Animal Protective League Boo-Wow Walk Saturday for a brisk walk through Maple Ridge Golf Course.
“The response and support has been phenomenal,” APL board president Nancy Warner said. “We have 450 registered dogs here today.”
The Boo-Wow Walk is the APL’s biggest fundraiser of the year, Warner said, and anything short of a spectacular turnout would have spelled financial doom for the no-kill animal shelter.
“I have the feeling we will raise as much money as last year, but unfortunately we will still fall short on funding for the year,” she said.
The dogs weren’t thinking about tricky dollars during Saturday’s walk, they were all about the treats.
“Maple Ridge Golf Course is a wonderful venue for the Boo-Wow Walk. The dogs have plenty of space to walk and with 450 dogs, space is really important,” Warner said.
Dogs and their owners dressed in costume for the charity walk to compete for best costume and biggest fundraiser prizes, including a $500 Wal-Mart gift card, $250 in BP gas gift cards and a portable DVD player. The dogs went trick or treating through 16 stops along the golf course trail.
Disco didn’t have a costume, but in the end, he didn’t need one. Golden fur was impressive enough to win this short dog a permanent adoption with his Boo-Wow sponsors.
“We took him for a walk and just fell in love with him,” Jane Wallace said. “Disco is coming home with us.”
Now Disco’s days will be spent playing with Wallace’s niece and nephew, Brandon Wallace, 7, and Emily, 11.
Schnitzel the daschund caterpillar’s owner, Nancy Post, said all animal lovers should support the efforts of the APL.
“Schnitzel is an adopted dog and I just feel we should do as much as we can for the animals who are still waiting to find happy homes,” Post said.
