Lakeshore PAWS Pup Crawl celebrates Valparaiso residents and their pets while supporting a good cause

On Saturday, June 20, residents and their dogs packed into the sunny streets of downtown Valparaiso for the 13th annual Pup Crawl.

The Pup Crawl drew an incredible crowd, as hundreds of attendees walked their dogs up and down vendor lined sidewalks. Local businesses and restaurants served a selection of summer treats for people to enjoy, such as ice cream, lemonade, and popcorn. The Pup Crawl dog walk began at around 7 p.m., as dozens of dog owners walked and talked through downtown Valparaiso. When they returned to the venue, they were greeted with live music from a local band.

The dogs themselves were catered to inside the events pavilion. Dog themed gift baskets were raffled off, dog groomers advertised their services, and a sketch artist drew pictures of man and best friend. Multiple dog treat vendors also sold their wares, giving the pups full bellies to match their owners.

The Pup Crawl is sponsored by Vale Park Animal Hospital, a local veterinary practice, and hosted by Lakeshore PAWS, a Valparaiso animal rescue focusing on taking care of and rehoming abandoned dogs. The two organizations work quite closely together, and have developed a strong relationship over the years.

Tonya Hiscox, an Inventory Manager at Vale Park, went into detail on their partnership with Lakeshore PAWS.

“We have a program that’s called Forever Pet Program, so people that donate dogs from Lakeshore Paws can come to us after they adopt a dog and their first visit is free, and we cover their core vaccines for their pet’s entire life, as long as they keep coming back yearly for their yearly visits.”

The Pup Crawl, as an event, achieved two goals. Firstly, it provided pets and owners with an opportunity to socialize, listen to live music, and eat some tasty food prepared by local businesses. Secondly, it raised critical awareness and funds for the rescued dogs of Lakeshore Paws.

An event with the size and scale of the Pup Crawl takes a great deal of effort to pull off. The enjoyment of the attendees, as well as the event’s noble cause, makes the meticulous work and planning more than worth it for Hiscox and the rest of the volunteers.

“It is very rewarding,” said Hiscox, “Tons of clients and pets that we see regularly have already come by today, and you know they’re excited to see us, so we’re excited to see them and continue building those relationships.”

The Lakeshore PAWS Pup Crawl is a summer staple that Valparaiso residents are lucky to have year after year. Few events cater so strongly towards pet owners as well as their pets, and the Pup Crawl is planned by dog lovers for dog lovers.

To learn more about Lakeshore PAWS, visit lakeshorepaws.org.