You and your dog have a March 19 playdate that you just can’t miss — the Celebrity Paws in the Park day of fun at Riverfront Park in North Charleston.
“Celebrity Paws in the Park is an event that unifies thousands of people, at a beautiful venue, Riverfront Park in North Charleston,” said Blackbaud’s Tanya Fitzgerald, who is the event committee chair.
Not only will you and your dog be able to participate in a competitive 5K race or a leisurely fun run and walk, but you and area children will learn how to be your best selves around man’s best friends with Animal Planet television star Travis Brorsen. And you can learn how the event host, Charleston Animal Society, teamed up with Roper St. Francis Healthcare to get people and their pets outside and moving with a “Couch to 5K” training program.
After the morning 5K race and fun run, families will be able to sit, stay and play all day in six activity zones throughout the expansive North Charleston park. Among the activities are dog adoptions and Dock Dogs® diving competitions. Health and wellness services for dogs will be offered at Celebrity Paws in the Park, including microchips and free sign-up for Petco Love Lost, which uses facial recognition technology to find lost pets. Just off-site of the event, Petco Love will offer a free vaccine clinic with rabies and distemper vaccines for dogs and cats.
Event features team fundraising
Celebrity Paws in the Park, brought to the community by Crews Subaru and a host of other sponsors, is Charleston Animal Society’s largest spring fundraiser and it’s not too late to get involved. Anyone who wants to participate in the competitive 5K — or the fun run or walk — can sign up at Paws.CharlestonAnimalSociety.org.
“Friends of Charleston Animal Society are encouraged to create a fundraising team or fundraise as an individual,” Fitzgerald said. “Competitors in both the 5K race and the fun run will win prizes based on their times and organized team themes.
“Fundraising teams and individuals will earn prizes based on the amount of funds raised. All money raised will go to lifesaving care to thousands of animals each year at Charleston Animal Society.”
Brorsen takes the stage Saturday
The day-long event also will feature special stage shows with Travis & Friends that will teach kids how to be their best selves around dogs. Brorsen, who is an Animal Planet star, celebrity dog trainer and winner of the hit reality show Greatest American Dog, will be live on stage Saturday for these fun-filled educational segments.
“When Charleston Animal Society asked me to be a part of Celebrity Paws in the Park, I could not resist,” Brorsen said. “This is going to be a lot of fun for the kiddos. I can’t wait to see people outdoors enjoying life again!”
Brorsen built his career on sharing what he has learned about creating a positive learning environment for dogs and building relationships between them and their families based on friendship, kindness and compassion.
Event is more than a race or fun run
After the 5K and fun run, people can enjoy a variety of food from the best Lowcountry food trucks and sip on the Charleston Animal Society’s 2022-winning Rescue Brew Beer. Other events throughout the day:
- Hill’s Pet Adoption Zone
- 24 Pet Watch Health and Wellness Zone
- Fetch K9 Sports Arena, which will feature the world-famous DockDogs™ Diving Competition. Buy a pass and your dog could be selected to dive!
- Family-friendly programming. Throughout the day, activities will include live obedience and working dog demonstrations from the Charleston Aviation Authority’s K9 Unit and other organizations.
Sponsors help make the event possible
Charleston Animal Society is thankful for community sponsors that make the day of fun possible.
“As an integral part of our Subaru Love Promise to our community, we believe that people and pets are better together,” said Ken French, marketing guy for Crews Subaru. “As the 2021 Subaru Retailer of the Year, Crews supports many programs that benefit children, and Celebrity Paws in the Park brings our passions together. We are honored to be the Presenting Sponsor, not only in the inaugural year but for the next three years as Subaru Loves Pets!!”
Other Celebrity Paws in the Park sponsors include: Roper St. Francis Healthcare, Boehringer Ingelheim, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Live 5 WCSC, Charleston City Paper, Charleston Radio Group, City of North Charleston, Vetoquinol, Delaney Oyster Bar, Blackbaud, Charleston Carriage Horse Advocates, Hank and Laurel Greer, and Joye Law Firm.
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