By WARREN DILLAWAY - Staff Writer
AUSTINBURG TOWNSHIP — Hundreds of dogs dressed as roosters, policemen, reporters, pumpkins, and even a hot dog, sauntered around Maple Ridge Golf Course Saturday afternoon and nobody called the game warden.
It wasn’t a dog jail break, but the eighth annual Boo Wow Walk complete with more than 500 owners, and their pets, walking a two mile course through the fall foliage.
“I feel so bad for the animals that don’t have a home. That’s why we are here,” said Bobbi Dalton, who has been participating for years.
While the event is a major fundraiser for the Ashtabula County Animal Protective League it also is an avenue for creativity for area pet owners.
Michelle Dowler dressed her two pooches up for the big event.
He’s supposed to be Clifford but he just looks bloody,” she said of her dog that was sprayed red.
Dowler also dressed up her dog Dakota in a hot dog costume. She said the dog seems to like it because she is thin and it keeps her warm.
“We’re here every year. It gets bigger and bigger,” said Linda Loftus who was dressed like a clown with her dog Abby.
As people walked their dogs there were water stops and gifts to be added to donated bags for each participant.
Dogs occasionally barked up a storm, but most walked peacefully throughout the golf course.
Getting to the event was a big of a challenge for some as the rainy weather necessitated a Jolly Trolley shuttle ride from Flying J to the course for many participants who waited as long as an hour.
“There were a lot of people who were very, very patient,” said Kathy Kaura who helped organize the event.
Kaura estimated there were about 500 people participating in the walk that last year raised more than $30,000 for the APL.
It will be several weeks before organizers know how much money has been raised but they hope to have a good estimate today.
“This is an important APL event. They (the organization) is counting on us for every penny we can possibly make,” Kaura said.
John Jyruovat, owner of the golf course, said the animals were very clean. He said the family was asked to use the course and responded because they believe the APL is important to the community.
C.C., a small dog dressed in a rooster costume, is a veteran of all three Boo Wow walks at the golf course. “I just thought it would be a good costume for a little guy,” Jodi Lisi, of Madison said.
The dog gas also walked the course dressed as a soccer player and a bumble bee.
Dog owners have 12 months to come up with the perfect costume for Boo Wow Walk 2010.
