Paws in the Park 2011 is a resounding success!

All of us here at the Escondido Humane Society could not be more thrilled about the success of Paws in the Park 2011. So far, we have raised $101,630 from an estimated 1,000 registered walkers (and their canine companions), event sponsors, and vendors. Yes, it was an amazing year – our best fundraising year ever on record!

Every dollar will help care for the 418 animals currently at EHS, as well as the thousands more who are expected to come through our doors this year. The great news is that our fundraising pages will stay open for another month, so you can help us raise even more funds for animals who truly need it the most. Click HERE to donate today.

To everyone who helped at Paws in the Park - including volunteers, vendors, sponsors, walkers (and their dogs), and all who donated - thank you! Even if you do not personally meet the animals currently at the Escondido Humane Society, please know that they are here, and that their lives are better because of your generosity!

Congratulations and a heartfelt thank you to our individual and team fundraisers!

Top fundraising teams:

1. Team Low Rider

2. Sweet Pea and Jesse

3. Friends of Gollum

Top individual fundraisers

1. Betty Jamieson-Dunne

2. Candy Kalman

3. Wendy Wright

Paws in the Park is THIS Sunday!

Join us at Kit Carson Park this Sunday, March 27, for our biggest event of the year - Paws in the Park!

Join the hundreds of walkers and their canine companions who will be on hand Sunday to raise funding and awareness for homeless animals in our community. Bring your dog, or walk in honor or memory of a pet who has touched your life, and feel great knowing that your efforts will help care for animals who need us the most!

Registration opens at 8 a.m. Pre-register online at www.firstgiving.com/ehs, or register on the day of the event by downloading a pledge form HERE and bringing it to the walk. The walk kicks off at 9 a.m. and is followed by a post-walk celebration complete with contests, games for people and pets alike, entertainment, food, shopping and more.

In addition to these post-walk festivities, we also will be joined by special guests Tamilee Webb, star of the "Buns of Steel" series; Rev. Canon Lee B. Teed, who will lead us on a Blessing of the Animals; Why Dogs Fly; and Paws in the Park 2011 Spokespet Elsa! Brooke Landau of San Diego 6 The CW will serve as master of ceremonies, and Gary Trice, San Diego's "Classic Rocking DJ," will provide music. You're sure to have a ton of fun!

As an independent nonprofit organization, we depend on animal lovers like you to support our lifesaving work. Your participation in Paws in the Park will make a world of difference for animals in need. Every dollar raised for Paws in the Park will be directly transformed into shelter, food, and medical care for the 388 animals in our care at this very moment, as well as the 4,500 more who will come through our doors this year in need of loving care and new homes. Paws in the Park may have gone to the dogs, but ALL animals at the shelter will benefit from your lifesaving work.

* Paws in the Park will take place rain or shine! *

Paws in the Park event schedule

8 a.m.: Registration and light breakfast, entertainment, and a special meet and greet

8:20 a.m.: Meet Paws in the Park Spokespet Elsa!

8:30 a.m.: Walk warm-up with Tamilee Webb

8:40 a.m.: Blessing of the animals with Rev. Canon Lee B. Teed

9 a.m.: Walk kickoff!

10:15 a.m.: High-flying, high-energy demonstration by Why Dogs Fly!

10:20 a.m.: Canine Couture Fashion show (come dressed to impress!)

10:50 a.m.: The Amazing Rover Race

11:20 a.m.: Award ceremony for top individual and team fundraisers

11:45 a.m.: Raffle winners announced

Noon: Event ends with thank you's for your all of your support!

All morning: Entertainment; giveaways; raffle; doggie kissing booth; pet confidence-building course; games for the whole family - including our furry friends; and Paw vendor expo, which will include such vendors as Allie's Rental; Barons the Marketplace; Cindy Westen - Animal Communicator; City of Escondido - Water Conservation; Easy Turf; Even Chance Pit Bull Advocacy, Resources and Rescue; Four Paws Up; Geico San Marcos; K9 Dog Park; Kahoots; Labrador Rescuers; Magic 92.5; Nature's Select; Noah's Wish; Peace & Love; Petco Foundation; PetLovers Publications; Petville USA; P+T Enterprises; Pure Cleaning Agency; San Diego County Credit Union; San Diego House Rabbit Society; Silverado Senior Living; The Animal Keeper; The Dog Pad; Trinity Property Consultants; Two Paws Up; Veterinary Specialty Hospital; Welk Resort; and Westfield North County

Many wags of thanks for our sponsors!

Presenting sponsor the Petco Foundation; San Diego 6 and event emcee Brooke Landau; Westfield North County; Magic 92.5; ABC Veterinary Hospital; Veterinary Specialty Hospital; San Diego County Credit Union; Acacia Animal Health Center; Barons The Marketplace; Cindy Waasdorp; Rincon; Aall In Limo Service; and Gary Trice, San Diego's Classic Rocking DJ.

Their support is making a difference for pets and people across San Diego - THANK YOU!

Paws in the Park countdown: 24 days!

March is here, which means we're in the homestretch to Paws in the Park. We have some exciting new developments to share this week:

We just added Why Dogs Fly to our post-walk festivities! Al and his canine team of disc dogs, including George, Gracie and Roxy, are bringing their high-energy performance to Kit Carson Park for your enjoyment. You won't want to miss it!

Brooke Landau of San Diego 6, our presenting media sponsor, also was added to our lineup this week. Brooke is the weekend weathercaster for San Diego 6 and is a Paws in the Park veteran, doing her live weather hits from the event for the past two years. This year, we are excited to announce that she will be joining us as our event emcee!

There's still time to register for Paws in the Park 2011. Click HERE to register and create your own fundraising page, then join us on March 27 to raise funding for animals in need.

Event schedule:

8 a.m.: Registration and light breakfast, entertainment, and a special meet and greet

8:45 a.m.: Blessing of the animals with Rev. Canon Lee B. Teed

9 a.m.: Walk kickoff!

10:15 a.m.: Contests for you and your dog, including Canine Couture and the Amazing Rover Race!

11 a.m.-noon: Entertainment, giveaways, raffle, doggie kissing booth, pet confidence-building course, Paw vendor expo, which will include such vendors as Easy Turf, K9 Dog Park, and Welk Resort, games for the whole family - including our furry friends!

We hope to see you and your canine companions at Paws in the Park on March 27!