WAG! walk to benefit pet owners in need
Prairie Oaks Metro Park is one of Mary Saup’s favorite places to go on walks with her pitbull, Lucy, and it’s conveniently close to her home in Hilliard.
For the past 12 years, the park has hosted WAG! Fest, an August event bringing pet owners and their dogs together to enjoy everything from a variety of vendors to treat samples to a dog beach for canines to enjoy. Last year the event attracted more than 18,000 people, said Mike Poleway, WAG! Fest event producer for Event Marketing Group.
Saup and Lucy have been to the festival for the past three years, and they will be back at the park again this year ‒ though not for WAG! Fest, which was canceled in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This time, the pair will take a hike on one of trails at Prairie Oaks as a part of WAG! Wilderness Walk over Labor Day weekend.
The self-guided hiking event from Sept. 5-7 is a scaled-down, more individualized event being held in place of the festival. During that weekend, participants are invited to walk with their dog on any of the pet-designated trails across the 19 Columbus-area metro parks — minus the vendors and other attractions.
Registration will be open through Sept. 7 and costs $28 per individual or family (participants can register or get more information at wagfest.com). All proceeds will be donated to Columbus Humane’s Pet Food Assistance Program, which helps provide pet food and other supplies to homes in need.
Though WAG! Fest historically hasn’t been a fundraising event that benefits one specific organization, Poleway saw the wilderness walk as an opportunity to help those affected by the pandemic.
“We realized that the impact of the pandemic is beyond limiting mass gatherings, and that there are many pet parents in our community who have been affected by COVID-19,” Poleway said. “For people who have lost their jobs, suffered financial strain or have gotten sick during the pandemic, the need for assistance with pet food and supplies has escalated, and it’s becoming more difficult for some central Ohio residents to feed their pets.”
Though the Pet Food Assistance Program receives donations from community members and partners such as the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the need for pet food and supplies has increased over the past few months.
Since April, Rachel Finney, CEO of Columbus Humane, said that it has
distributed food to almost 9,000 animals in more than 2,000 households, compared to about 20 to 30 households per month before the pandemic.
“The primary focus is to make sure people can keep the pets that they love,” Finney said.
Saup said she hadn’t really considered that such a need existed, but believes it’s a worthy cause and has registered for the walk over Labor Day weekend.
“The thought that people couldn’t afford to feed their dogs hadn’t occurred to me,” Saup said. “I just thought that was such a wonderful way to help others in the community. I think people get a lot of comfort from their pets, particularly in a time like this when people are isolated.”
WAG! Fest is expected to return in 2021. In the meantime, Poleway hopes that dog owners will take this opportunity to spend some time outdoors with their pets while supporting other owners.
“We realize the world may be a little different right now, but one thing hasn’t changed, and that’s our love for dogs,” Poleway said. “Although we’re not gathering together, we hope that the WAG! Fest community will join our efforts to celebrate central Ohio dogs in need by participating in the Wilderness Walk.”