Angel Dog Walk is an official Pet Memorial Day for the residents and businesses of Centerville, Ohio, who lost many beloved pets as well as their homes and belongings when Hurricane Ike tore through the city in 2008.

Rhonda Pingleton lost four of her dogs in an electrical fire caused by this tragedy.  To help deal with this loss, Pingleton created Angel Dog Walk for her community.  In addition, each year she researches area animal shelters and then picks one to be the recipient of the proceeds from the event.  This year she chose PAWS.

"All proceeds from this event will go to PAWS Adoption Center of Middletown, Ohio," said Pingleton.  "I chose PAWS because they have restructured a faltering shelter into a blossoming resource with minimal support. I especially applaud their adoption policies, spay and neuter outreach programs and their efforts to alleviate local shelters' burdens. They can become an even stronger ally for homeless animals in our communities with our support."

Date is Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011, and time is 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.  Event happenings include a Memorial Balloon Release, Blessing of the Animals, dog costume contest, raffles and much more.  All animal lovers are welcome, from anywhere and everywhere, to bring their dogs and share the love our animals give us every day of their lives.

Angel Wings Promo Pack is $25 and includes an Angel Dog Back Pack, Angel Dog T-shirt or hat, five raffle tickets, puppy treats and gifts, and discount coupon on other Angel Dog Walk items.  Angel Wings Promo Packs are available until supplies last and ordering ends Friday, Sept. 23.

To reserve your Angel Wings Promo Pack, make checks or money orders payable to Rhonda Pingleton and mail to 1063 Viewpoint Drive, Centerville, OH 45459.   Please include your contact information and preference for a T-shirt (include size) or hat.  If you prefer paying by PayPal, email AngelDogWalk@yahoo.com and include your order requests.  You will be sent the Angel Dog PayPal link.

Businesses are also encouraged to participate as sponsors and share their products and services with the public. To obtain business sponsor information, contact PAWS Executive Director Ginger Shawver at director@pawsadoptioncenter.org or Rhonda Pingleton at AngelDogWalk@yahoo.com.

"All PAWS' friends - volunteers, staff, foster families and those who have adopted PAWS animals - are encouraged to bring a dog to this heart-warming event," said Shawver. "People can walk the whole walk, just a portion of the walk, enter the costume contest or just participate in the blessing of the animals.  It's a celebration of canine love - their love for us and our love for them," Shawver said.

Date:  Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011

 

9 a.m. -- Angel Wings Promo Pack pick up and sign-in

 

9:30 a.m. -- Memorial Ceremony and Blessing of the Animals

 

10 to 11 a.m. -- Walk & Social

The fun and food are free-- but if you can help PAWS continue to care for homeless animals in our communiities, please order your Angel Wings Promo Pack by Sept. 23 or donate directly at: www.pawsadoptioncenter.org

 

Cost: $25 -- please order by Sept. 23

 

Location:  1063 Viewpoint Drive, Centerville, OH 45459

Parking on the street available outside of blocked off event area

 

Questions? Contact Ginger Shawver at director@pawsadoptioncenter.org or Rhonda Pingleton at AngelDogWalk@yahoo.com.

Garry Guecking is the SW Ohio Coordinator for BODA, which stands for Ban Ohio Dog Auctions.  Guecking and many of her volunteers can be found at public events throughout southwestern Ohio educating people about how dog auctions keep puppy mills alive, while their "products" are treated in horrible, inhumane ways. We interviewed Guecking about this serious problem in our society. She is a resident of Trenton, Ohio.

Why should I sign a petition to ban Ohio dog auctions?

The coalition to Ban Ohio Dog Auctions was started because of the inhumane treatment of dogs in these dog auctions. They are in small cages barely big enough to turn around and usually during these auctions have little food and water. Anyone can bid on these animals, even convicted felons; there is no check on character or whether they have been convicted of animal cruelty in the past.

More than 18,000 dogs were sold in auctions in 2007. U.S. dog auctions have increased from 28 to 68 in the past seven years while the number of dogs exchanged increased from about 5000 to over 18,000. These same dogs live in horrible conditions their whole lives, never setting foot outside their cages and forced to live, eat and defecate in the same place.

If you want to be a part of helping to stop the dog auctions and help make one step toward ending puppy mills, you can start by signing a petition to get this on the ballot in 2012.

How many signatures do you need to get this issue on the ballot and how many do you have so far?

In order to get this on the ballot, we must have 120,000 signatures by Dec. 1, 2011. Currently as of this writing, we have about 94,000. This sounds good but it has taken over two years to get this many and we are trying desperately to get those final signatures by the deadline.

When in 2012 can I expect to vote on this?

If we meet our goal, we can expect this to be on the November 2012 ballot.

Who can sign the petition?

Any person that is a registered voter in the state of Ohio is eligible to sign the petition. Signer must print their name legibly and add their signature. Each name will be checked for validity by the election boards.

Why did you become involved?

I became involved when I found out about the horrendous conditions these animals live in and because I am an animal lover and advocate. This was a step in the direction of making a difference.

How can I get more involved?

You can start by signing a petition or go to our website and print out your own petition and instructions. In most cases, you could probably fill a petition just by asking your friends, neighbors, and coworkers to sign. Also, you could volunteer to attend events where lots of people gather and canvas the crowd or have a table set up for that purpose. Or, I may need someone to help me with one of the events I will be attending.

What's the best website to explore to learn more?

You can find out more about this coalition by going to www.banohiodogauctions.com.  You will be able to print out Q and A sheets, instructions, and petitions at this site. A colorful flyer is also available to print.

PAWS also has petitions for you to sign available at the office at 2790 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, Middletown, Ohio.  Office hours are Tuesday through Friday, from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. PAWS is closed Sundays and Mondays.

You can find copies of Coffee News at over 75 locations around Middletown. Pick up a copy today and check out the fun! 

PAWS partners with Coffee News  

J.D. Leedy, publisher of Coffee News of Middletown, Monroe and Oxford, has partnered with PAWS to grow his business in southwest Ohio.

An avid animal lover, Leedy said the 10 percent of ad sales from his publication that he gives back to PAWS is something he feels is a great way to help the shelter.

"I have always believed in giving back.  When I toured PAWS, I decided I wanted to help this organization find good homes for these lost animals," Leedy said. 

PAWS is eager to promote to area businesses the advantages of advertising in a publication like Coffee News, said Ginger Shawver, PAWS executive director.

"It's a fun publication and it fills a need for those of us who want light-hearted reading while eating lunch or breakfast or waiting in a doctor's or dentist's office," Shawver said.  "The big plus for advertisers is that once you have advertised, your ad is exclusive to that industry - none of your competitors can advertise in the publication.

"It's a win-win for PAWS and for Coffee News," Shawver said.  "PAWS needs to grow its name among the local business community and this is another step toward that goal."  

To find out more about Coffee News, visit www.coffeenewsohio.com.

Your business can become a PAWS Partner  

PAWS is seeking businesses who would like to become a PAWS Partner in 2012.  An annual donation of $500, $2,000 or $5,000 guarantees the business that PAWS will promote your company in a variety of ways during the coming year.

For example, a donor at the "Siamese Level" of $500 will have their business name/logo appear on the PAWS' website Home Page as a PAWS Partner; the company's business cards will be displayed at every event that PAWS attends, and the company's literature will be stuffed in "goodie bags" presented to people who adopt an animal (over 400 animals were adopted last year.)

According to Ginger Shawver, PAWS executive director, PAWS has been highly visible in the Butler County community in recent months and the organization plans to continue to do so. Recent PAWS activity since June 2011: 

• PAWS had a booth at PetSmart in Mason, Bridgewater Falls and West Chester two to three times every month; 
• in June PAWS had a booth at Hanover Winery in Hamilton; 
• in July at the "Light Up the Sky" event in Monroe; 
• in June and July at three Middletown Broad Street Bash events; 
• in August at "National Night Out" in Middletown, and  
• at "Operation Show Our Love" in Middletown. 

As a PAWS Partner, your company's business card would have been displayed at all of these events, Shawver said.  

"This program gives area businesses a return on their donation to PAWS. It's a "thank you" letter that will keep on thanking them -- month after month for 12 months of 2012," said Shawver.

For more information on this program, email Shawver at director@pawsadoptioncenter.org. 

Upcoming Events  

 . . . for more details, visit the

Many of the tasks involve cleaning,

mopping and keeping the office tidy. Also, PAWS staff is in need of a "handyman" to help with repairs around the shelter.

"We can always use more help," said Facility Manager Stephenie Michna,"especially when it comes to keeping the shelter straightened up. There is so much traffic here - both animals and people - and that kind of activity generates messes and things beginning to fall apart. Staff does a great job - but sometimes their diligent efforts could still use more help," Michna said.

In addition, PAWS needs more volunteers to run our Mobile Adoption program.  These individuals will be trained to take animals from PAWS Adoption Center, crate them securely in the PAWS' van, and then show them at area businesses and stores such as PetSmart.  In addition, the volunteer will set up a table with PAWS' literature and will be trained to tell the public about PAWS' mission and goals.      

"It's a great opportunity to help us get our animals adopted," said Michna. "The animals wear 'Adopt Me' saddles and bandanas and get a lot of attention at the shopping areas."       

Volunteers are sent in a team to these locations, so they have ample help and support in the experience.       

"It's also an opportunity to educate others and share your passion for animals that are homeless," Michna said. 

If you can help with any of these volunteer duties,  please complete a Volunteer Application at the PAWS' website located at

www.pawsadoptioncenter.org.

Volunteers will be asked to attend an orientation session, then will be

trained accordingly.

"We love our volunteers and, when the new shelter is complete, look forward to having a more comfortable atmosphere for them in which to work and get to know one another," said Executive Director Ginger Shawver.

"Dogs are the leaders of the planet. If you see two life forms and one of them's making a poop while the other one's carrying it for him, who would you assume is in charge?" 

- Jerry Seinfeld