Hound and determined at ‘Running of the Wieners’

A pack of dachshunds put their best paws forward recently during the sixth annual Running of the Wieners at Pareidolia Brewing Company to benefit the H.A.L.O. No-Kill Animal Shelter’s Angel Medical Fund.

Other breeds attempted to blend in with the doxies, including a pair of great Danes in wiener costumes, while owners and fans sipped on sudsy Pareidolia beer in honor of Oktoberfest, a familiar celebration where the breed originated.

The dachshunds raced for prizes and strutted their stuff in the costume contest, all to support the nonprofit’s mission to provide a no-kill safe haven for homeless pets and, ideally, find loving homes for them.

Jacque Petrone, H.A.L.O. founder and executive director, said many animals are surrendered to the shelter with medical issues their owners can’t afford to treat.

“We’re trying to be there for them and their pets. We’re really struggling this year to keep the Angel Medical Fund replenished,” she said.

As an example, she said a cat with a urinary blockage had been left on their doorstep just that morning and was undergoing a $5,000 emergency procedure that afternoon.

“I guarantee you that he was really loved. It was just somebody who couldn’t afford to take care of him, so they did what they thought was going to give him the best chance,” said Petrone, adding that community support and fundraisers are critical to their operation.

Attendees received their fair share of sloppy licks from two pups rescued from the Virgin Islands. They were among the 27 animals re-routed to H.A.L.O. when the Nashville shelter they were intended to go to was affected by Hurricane Laura. One of the lucky pups was adopted during the event, and the other was garnering interest.

Allyson Bootes, H.A.L.O. director of development, said that with folks staying at home, they have seen a significant increase in fosters and adoptions, but conversely, their intake has increased by 28 percent since the beginning of the year because of people losing their homes or jobs during the pandemic.

Recently, thanks to an Impact 100 grant, H.A.L.O. has partnered with nonprofits that serve the county’s most financially vulnerable residents. Their first Impact Clinic supported Senior Resource Association clients, and on Nov. 15 they will assist United Against Poverty clients.

In 2019, H.A.L.O. saved 1,323 animals and helped 1,171 find their forever homes. Another aspect of their mission is to promote the importance of spay/neutering and vaccinations. Bootes explained that just one unaltered female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 puppies in only six years. In seven years, one female cat and her offspring can produce 370,000 kittens.

On Oct. 31, the shelter will host HALO-WEEN with adoption fees waived that day. This year’s annual gala, a virtual one, will run from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12. The Faux Fur Ball will have volunteers delivering gourmet meals from Wild Thyme Catering, with wine or champagne, and there will be an online raffle and paddle raise.

For more information, visit halorescuefl.org.

Photos by: Brenda Ahearn and Stephanie LaBaff
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