Wiggle Waggle Walk

Oct. 14, 2002

By Kyra Kirkwood

As Annie approached the familiar shelter on Raymond Avenue in Pasadena last Saturday, she realized how far she'd come from that day five years ago when she entered the Pasadena Humane Society gates, scared, homeless and covered in fleas. Sick and matted with dirt, Annie was nursed back to health and cleanliness by the shelter workers who taught her that people could be decent and good.

Now, with owner on leash, she wagged past the place that gave her a second chance at a loving home, ready to give something back.

Surrounding her that October day were hundreds of dogs with their owners in tow–550 to be exact–all mingling outside the Pasadena Humane Society, waiting for the start of the fourth annual Wiggle Waggle Walk–the biggest one in shelter history.

Annie glanced over at her little brother, also a shelter rescue, and together they surveyed the crowd. Giant Great Danes, miniscule teacup Chihuahuas, furry terrier mixes, beefy Pit Bulls and so many more waited anxiously for the one- and two-mile fundraising walks to begin. This year, the money raised would go toward emergency medical services, enabling injured animals to receive necessary surgery and a second chance at a new life.

"It would be great if these dogs could have a chance," said shelter veterinarian Susy Horowitz, who noted how much these Wiggle Waggle Walk funds help animals, especially those needing orthopedic surgery.

Annie wove her way through the packed crowd of canines trembling with excitement and groggy humans clutching coffee cups.

"Hi, I'm Annandale Annie," said a muscular Pit Bull/Rhodesian Ridgeback from Pasadena as she popped from the crowd. "Aren't the people here at the shelter just great?"

Turns out, Annandale Annie ran wild with coyotes and deer on her namesake golf course until Jill Thomas Doyle took pity on the bundle of energy. With help from the shelter officers, Annandale Annie was captured, rehabilitated and adopted out to the Doyles, who now live for the times when this 61-pound, russet-colored three-year-old climbs into their laps and smothers them in sloppy kisses.

"Dogs enrich your lives in so many ways," Doyle said, crouching beside her rescue. "The joy they bring with each day is incredible. They remind us what life is all about."

Just then, Hunter and Willow Dunning appeared with owners Jon and Barbra close behind, having made the trek to Pasadena from Orange.

"I want other dogs to have a loving home like mine," said Hunter, a 3-year-old Pointer mix adopted at four months of age from the Orange County Animal Shelter. "I'm so lucky."

This was her second Wiggle Waggle Walk, and this time, she brought her baby sister, a two-year-old Golden Retriever/Cattle Dog mix named Willow. "Yes, we want to raise awareness for adoptions and to solicit money for the dogs already in the Pasadena Humane Society," said Willow, eyeing her owner's makeshift breakfast. "And to eat some bagels."

The Wiggle Waggle Walk came to be under the constant watch and ceaseless dedication of event chairperson Cindy Rigney of Alta Dena. For the past four years, Rigney spearheaded each Wiggle Waggle Walk, striving to cultivate much-needed funding for the shelter. One year, the "cause for the paws" was spay and neuter education; another was adoption awareness.

"We try to pick a different theme to educate the public a little more each year," said Rigney. Last year, approximately 400 people showed up to Walk, raising $31,000. This year, the walker tally jumped dramatically to a record-breaking 550 and the funds netted were more than $34,000.

"Each year it continues to build," said Rigney.

Spencer, a Cocker Spaniel mix, bounced into view, attempting to play with any dog walking by. Turns out, he's a newly minted shelter alumnus, having been adopted by chiropractor Sandi Ioele of Monrovia last year.

"I wanted to do something to help the shelter," Spencer said, taking a moment's break from pouncing on other dogs' heads. "And I thought the walk would be something really fun to do with my mom. She adores me, you know. Talks about me all the time. Says I'm her 'little dream'."

"I'm a shelter alumna too," said Murphy, a tri-colored, floppy, Wheaten Terrier mix rescued in March. "I sure see a lot of others I knew in the joint. Lots of us graduates turned out for the Walk. I wanted to support the place that helped me find my mom." She peered lovingly from under her thick fur at Athenia Veliz-Dunn of West Los Angeles.

"She's the love of our life," affirmed Veliz-Dunn.

"As am I to my parents," squeaked Emmet Doran of San Gabriel. "I'm an old graduate of this place, having adopted my owners more than seven years ago." The diminutive, white Maltese mix sporting neon sunglasses looked stoically at the crowd. "I was a mess when I arrived at the shelter, dirty and matted. I kept trying to bite people because I was in such pain; an old collar embedded itself into my neck, but no one knew at first.

"Thanks to the shelter staff, they found the collar, fixed me up and introduced me to my mom Cathy. I think this is a wonderful shelter. I wish they could all be like this."

Throughout the course of the Wiggle Waggle Walk–down Raymond to California, over to Orangegrove and Del Mar–Annie and the other dogs garnered stares from passers-by, and were treated like the Rose Parade floats from viewers in their front yards who waited for the puppy parade to pass.

But the fun didn't stop at the walk's finale. At Central Park, a pooch party commenced, featuring a live band, agility courses, photo opportunities, toys from Petco and food from Nutro. From station to station dotting the park that autumn morning, hundreds of dogs towed their owners to and fro, aching to see what new tidbit lay in wait at this booth, or who will give them more snackies in that one.

A big hit of the morning was the "Paw-casso" paw-painting station, where dogs dipped their pads in finger paint and created a masterpiece of Mastiff proportions. The Nutro booth, constantly busy, attracted both owners and dogs alike as free food samples disappeared, either into the owners' bags or the pups' tummies. Microchip certificates sold steadily and Dr. Horowitz operated an ask-the-vet station.

Raffles sparked squeaker-toy-like excitement in the adults as $50 Petco gift certificates, a one-year dog food supply from Nutro, Target gift baskets, Domenico's certificates and Frontline flea treatments all went to lucky winners.

Yet alas, as all good things must do, this Walk came to an end, with tired dogs on the end of slack leashes, attempting one last exhausted try for another jump in the agility ring or a final romp with a new best friend.

Rigney looked around as people filed out of Central Park, worn out but proud of the day's accomplishments. With the money raised, more cases like Hop-Along will be commonplace. Annie knew that Hop-Along, arriving at the shelter with shattered limbs, was not automatically euthanized because of the severe injuries. Instead, he received sophisticated orthopedic treatment, physical therapy, and a loving home.

"Hopefully, this money will help us help more like that," Rigney said, missing her own four pups keeping watch at home, as well as the ones who've passed on. "They got me into [volunteering at the shelter]. There are so many animals that need help. The money we raise here [at the Wiggle Waggle Walk] helps them all. It helps the Humane Society keep going."