Napa Humane’s Walk for Animals to bring pets, owners back to the streets | Local News
7 min readNapa Humane’s celebration of the pet-and-human bond will return to downtown streets on Sunday morning, after two years away during the pandemic.
Hundreds of dogs and owners are scheduled to stroll central Napa during the 11th annual Walk for Animals. The annual procession, which will be followed by a pet-themed festival at the Oxbow Commons park, raises tens of thousands of dollars for Napa Humane’s spay-neuter programs and other animal welfare work.
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Since the last Walk for Animals in August 2019, crowd restrictions caused by the COVID-19 emergency have led Napa Humane to switch to virtual events for two years running.
Napa Humane had raised nearly $45,000 as of Wednesday toward its goal of $80,000 for the walk, according to executive director Wendi Piscia. The nonprofit announced at least 190 registrations for the event, with a goal of 300 by Sunday.
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Because of the gradual return of mass gatherings since the pandemic’s emergence, the group is setting a lower fundraising target this year, compared to the estimated $100,000 it raised during the last Walk for Animals three years ago.
“We decreased expectations based on the two-year absence of in person events,” Piscia said Wednesday. “With any event, you get more momentum year over year.”
Sunday’s stroll will begin and end at the Oxbow Commons on McKinstry Street, where registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The walk starts at 9:30 a.m. and will follow a loop through the park, on the First Street bridge across the Napa River, and then south on Main Street and north up the Harry T. Price Riverwalk. Participants will then head east on the bridge and return to the Commons.
Following the walk will be a festival at the Commons that will feature animal contests, a photo booth, a silent auction and raffle, and demonstrations from the Napa Valley Dog Training Club.
Also on display will be pets up for adoption from the Napa County Animal Shelter and Ripple Effect Animal Project, Napa Humane’s partners in the event.
Online registration for the Walk for Animals ends at 11:59 p.m. Friday night, at $55 per person with a souvenir T-shirt or $35 without a shirt. Participants can register later or at the event site for a higher fee of $75 with a tee or $50 without.
Donations to Napa Humane in connection with the event will be accepted through Aug. 31 online at napahumane.org, or by email or in-person drop-off at Napa Humane, 3265 California Blvd., Napa, CA 94558.
Proceeds from the Walk for Animals fund the spaying and neutering of pets, of which Napa Humane performs about 5,000 a year to reduce the number of homeless kittens and puppies in the community, Piscia said. Other programs funded by Napa Humane include vaccinations, implanting of tracking microchips in pets, and animal welfare education.
For Walk for Animals registration and other information, visit Napa Humane at napahumane.org.
Throwback Thursday: Napa Humane’s Walk for Animals through the years
Walk for Animals 2013
Judi Cross, a Napa Humane volunteer, holds Monty, one of five dogs from from the Napa County animal shelter that Napa Humane was offering for adoption Sunday at its annual Walk for Animals event. Howard Yune/Register
Walk for Animals 2013
About 300 dogs and other pets accompanied some 500 people taking part in the second annual Walk for Animals celebration in downtown Napa, according to organizer Napa Humane. The event was expected to raise more than $60,000 in donations for the humane society’s pet vaccination, adoption, and spay-and-neuter programs. Howard Yune/Register
Walk for Animals 2013
Kellie Fuller, master of ceremonies for Sunday’s Walk for Animals, gets sudden affection from two dogs during the event’s “doggie kiss” competition at Veterans Memorial Park. Canines also were entered into pet trick and costume contests at the event, a fundraiser for Napa Humane. Howard Yune/Register
Walk for Animals 2013
Angel and devil outfits worn by two dogs owned by Cheryl and Mike Beguelin of Napa were among the festive costumes adorning many of the estimated 300 pets Sunday at the second annual Walk for Animals. Howard Yune/Register
Walk for Animals 2014
Karen Maloney (left) and Sheila Edridge costumed their dogs, Bella and Prissy, in matching pink tutus, two of the numerous pet outfits displayed at last year’s Walk for Animals in downtown Napa.
Walk for Animals 2014
A memorial at Napa’s Veterans Memorial Park, which Napa Humane added to this year’s Walk for Animals event, encouraged owners of deceased pets to write messages to their beloved animals on red tiles, then install them in a section of chain-link fence to form a heart pattern.
Walk for Animals 2014
Madison Manasse takes a lick from her terrier mix, Sadie, during a “sloppy kiss” contest at Veterans Memorial Park following Sunday’s Walk for Animals through downtown Napa.
Napa Walk for Animals 2015
Lenora and Leroy, two 8-year-old Chihuahua mixes, give a friendly lick to Deassa Binstock of the Napa County animal shelter, which placed the canine friends in the same carriage during the Walk for Animals to encourage visitors to adopt them together.
Napa Walk for Animals 2015
Hundreds of visitors joined their dogs in Sunday’s fourth annual Walk for Animals procession in downtown Napa. The event raised more than $65,000 for low-cost spaying and neutering and other animal welfare programs, according to the organizer, Napa Humane.
Napa Walk for Animals 2015
Cynthia Latorre of Napa gets affection from Willow, her miniature Doberman pinscher, shortly before a canine sloppy-kiss contest Sunday at Veterans Memorial Park.
Napa Humane’s Walk for Animals 2016
Brenna Meko performs with Loki, a standard poodle, during a contest at the Oxbow Commons following Sunday’s annual Walk for Animals, the fundraising march organized by Napa Humane.
Napa Humane’s Walk for Animals 2016
Misty, a 2-year-old pit bull mix currently being housed at the Napa County animal shelter, feels out another canine participant at Sunday’s fifth annual Walk for Animals.
Napa Humane’s Walk for Animals 2016
Steve Teer prepares to launch Frisbees for his dog Finn to pursue during a demonstration by Disc Dogs of the Golden Gate Sunday morning at the Oxbow Commons, before the annual Walk for Animals procession.
Napa Humane’s Walk for Animals 2016
Rupert, a 2-year-old German shepherd and Rottweiler mix, watches bystanders while Julie Nord keeps watch. Rupert was one of several dogs promoted by volunteers at the Napa County animal shelter for possible adoption at Sunday’s annual Walk for Animals celebration.
Napa Humane Walk for Animals 2017
This spaghetti-and-meatballs shirt was one of the canine costumes on display Sunday morning during the sixth annual Walk for Animals, the fundraising procession and fair organized by Napa Humane. More than 200 dogs and 400 people took part in the walk, the nonprofit group reported.
Napa Humane Walk for Animals 2017
This dog was one of several entered into the sloppy-kiss contest during Napa Humane’s annual Walk for Animals, a fundraising procession and festival at the Oxbow Commons.
Napa Humane Walk for Animals 2017
Bruce Simmons and his dog Vader were among duos from the Disc Dogs of the Golden Gate who entertained spectators at Napa Humane’s Walk for Animals with disc-catching acrobatics on the lawn of the Oxbow Commons.
Napa Humane Walk for Animals 2017
During the Walk for Animals pet fair at the Oxbow Commons in Napa, Doris von Reitzensten of Napa and her 4-year-old border collie Buddi pose for a caricature sketch by Rhoda Draws, an artist who teaches quick-sketch courses and legally changed her last name from Grossman in 2009.
Napa Humane Walk for Animals 2017
Lion ears, top hats and hot-dog coats were among the outfits sported by various dogs during a costume contest at Napa Humane’s Walk for Animals festival in the Oxbow Commons park.
Napa Humane Walk for Animals 2018
Lupita (left), a 3-year-old dachshund/beagle mix, and 5-year-old chihuahua Abby were among the dogs being offered for adoption at the Oxbow Commons following Sunday’s annual Walk for Animals, a fundraiser for Napa Humane.
Napa Humane Walk for Animals 2018
Yoshi, dressed as a sushi chef with a salmon roll, was among the dogs entered into the costume contest at the Oxbow Commons following Sunday’s annual Walk for Animals fundraiser in Napa.
Napa Humane Walk for Animals 2018
The Oxbow Commons park was the starting and ending point for Sunday’s Walk for Animals, which Napa Humane estimated will raise $95,000 for pet welfare programs.
Napa Humane Walk for Animals 2018
J.W. Toy of Napa matched costumes Sunday morning with Spice, his 7-year-old yellow Labrador, during Napa Humane’s annual Walk for Animals.
Napa Humane Walk for Animals 2018
Among the competitions held during Sunday’s Napa Humane Walk for Animals festival was a dog-kiss contest, in which fans applauded the canine offering the sloppiest licks to its owner.
Napa Humane Walk for Animals 2018
Napa Humane is offering free rabies shots to dogs and cats on Sept. 28. This promenade of pets occurred at Napa Humane’s Walk for the Animals in August.
Napa Humane Walk for Animals 2019
Playful costumes adorned many of the dogs that strolled the Oxbow Commons and downtown Napa streets Sunday morning during Napa Humane’s eighth annual Walk for Animals.
Napa Humane Walk for Animals 2019
Napa Humane’s eighth annual Walk for Animals on Sunday morning featured hundreds of local dogs and about 450 human participants, according to Wendi Piscia, executive director for the nonprofit organization. The procession, which was expected to raise about $100,000, began and ended at the Oxbow Commons park, following a course through downtown Napa streets and the Riverfront promenade.
Napa Humane Walk for Animals 2019
Cheryl (right) and Michael Begulelin of Napa garbed themselves and their dogs, 11 1/2-year-old Niki and 8-year-old Jesse, in superhero costumes for Sunday’s Walk for Animals, the annual canine-and-owner procession organized as a fundraiser for Napa Humane.
You can reach Howard Yune at 530-763-2266 or [email protected]
