The sixth annual Pet Partners’ World's Largest Pet Walk with local chapter Pet Partners of North Florida featured fundraising activities on Sept. 23 at St. Johns County Equestrian Center, 8200 Smith Road in Hastings.
The walk, a horse and dog tack and equipment sale, horse and rider schooling event, along with vendors raised much needed funds and attracted approximately 500 total participants and attendees who supported North Florida work with animal interventions.
Sponsors and vendors included Country Caterers BBQ Inc., Knowell’s Lock & Safe, Samikel Customs, Suddenly Sudak’s Succulents, Grace Under the Oaks, Sumo CBD, HAALT Animal Assisted Therapy, Lexi Ray Pet Portraits, 2nd Chance Feed Bags, BEMER by Marilyn Samuelson, Boss Mare Equine Therapy Massage, and Blade Sharpening by DeWitt and Steve DeWitt Rodrigue.
Pet Partners is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization specializing in partnerships with therapeutic professionals, educational resources and research-based programming. Individuals trained as animal therapy educators and handlers by the organization and chapters work with nine species of therapy animals for animal-assisted therapies and interventions, including dogs, cats, equines, rabbits, guinea pigs, domestic rats, birds, mini pigs and alpacas. The local chapter focuses on bringing visiting pet therapy teams to any facility, school or business that can use a positive diversion through the human-animal bond.
According to Chris Dunn, board member of Pet Partners of North Florida, and resident and owner of Ravenwood Farms in Keystone Heights, attendees gathered with friends and families for a casual stroll around the equestrian center, along with training and schooling horses at the Equestrian Center riding areas.
“We appreciate everyone who raised money for Pet Partners while doing something they already enjoy, such as walking with their pets,” said Lorri M. Reynolds, board member with Pet Partners of North Florida, resident of Green Cove Springs and a real estate broker with Watson Realty Corp. in Jacksonville. “We will use the funds raised for increasing our awareness with a new local website and to help continue training for handlers and pets. The World's Largest Pet Walk initiative provides a positive space for anyone to spend time with their pet while also benefiting the community by raising vital funds to help share the love of a therapy animal with children and adults in need of emotional and mental health support.”
There was no registration fee to walk at the local World's Largest Pet Walk, but attendees were encouraged to raise funds if possible. Vendors registered to participate and purchased display space locations.
“Many participants raised money in honor of their own pets and as an opportunity for employee engagement and corporate support,” said Dunn.
Raffle winners included a first prize with a large security safe for Carla Willis of Grandin, second prize with a customized gift basket to Monica Mortensen of Nocatee and third prize with a container of succulent plants for Kelly Minor of the Mandarin area in Jacksonville.
For more information, contact Dunn at 904-626-1990 or email ravenwoodfarm@icloud.com.
