Humane Society Naples’ Run for the Paws event celebrated its 10th Anniversary on Saturday, January 30th with 946 registered runners or walkers, 180 dogs and a record-breaking net proceeds of over $17,000! Run for the Paws is the only Run in Naples in which participants can run or walk with their pet and the effect is delightful. To celebrate its tenth anniversary all human and canine finishers received medals. The Run follows a unique scenic path around the Naples Municipal Airport. The family friendly run attracted all ages, all breeds and all levels of ability. Organizers were determined to make this the most successful Run for the Paws to date. Local business sponsors, donors, and participants helped turn this goal into reality, with an increase in proceeds of over $5,000 than the previous year.
Money raised will directly assist HSN shelter animals in times of need, locate life-long homes and promote responsible pet ownership. In 2015 Humane Society Naples rescued and adopted 3,114 pets into forever, loving homes. Run for the Paws founder and organizer Ali Duffey first became involved with HSN in 2003 when a volunteer brought an 8-week old puppy from the shelter into the nursing home where she “It was love at first sight and she came home with me that night and to work with me every day for about five years. I knew I wanted to volunteer for HSN so I approached them in summer of 2005 to see if they would like to have a run/walk fundraiser.”
Over the past decade, Run for the Paws has raised over $100,000 for HSN and has engaged thousands of local people and their dogs in crossing the finish line side-by-side.
