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<p>KINGSTON TWP &#8212; Every dog has its day, and for many area pooches that day was Saturday.</p><p>About 150 guests brought their furry friends to Frances Slocum State Park for the 29th annual Walk For the Animals, held by the SPCA of Luzerne County.</p><p>Event coordinator Nancy Derwin took some time to photograph the dogs interacting before the walk, capturing everything from nose nudges to rolling around in the grass &#8212; all to the delight of their owners.</p><p>&#8220;It started as one of our biggest fundraisers, and through all the years has been such a loved event by the community, we just kept going with it,&#8221; Derwin said of the walk.</p><p>Two routes were available, including a shorter 1-mile walk through the lands led by WBRE&#8217;s Haley Bianco as well as a longer, 1&#189;-mile route led by park volunteer George Hart.</p><p>A blessing of the animals was offered by Father Charlie Warwick of St. Clement and St. Peters Episcopal Church in Wilkes-Barre, and attendees were able to have their pets individually blessed before the walk as well.</p><p>Coaxing her bulldog, Chubbs, for a photo Larksville resident Sue Januski said she was excited to take part in the fundraiser for the first time.</p><p>&#8220;My mom wanted to bring the puppy and we like to take the dogs for walks. We wanted to see all the other animals here,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Attendees were able to grab various pet-related supplies under a large tent during the walk, such as canine cookies, soups and even pet massages. About 40 raffle baskets were also donated, ranging from pet supplies to fall themes and housewares.</p><p>Proceeds from the event aid in the shelter&#8217;s mission, according to Derwin and SPCA executive director Todd Hevner, including food and supplies, vet bills and utilities.</p><p>&#8220;The proceeds from this walk help us to take care of the over 3,000 animals we take in each year,&#8221; Derwin said.</p><p>&#8220;It means the absolute world to us to see our community that we serve passionately and dedicated, to come out and support us and support the animals that find themselves in our care.&#8221; Hevner continued.</p><p>Plains resident Alison Ritsick said she&#8217;s happy to support the local SPCA, and has been attending the walk for a decade. This year, she brought along her 10-month-old Shih Tzu, Tyler.</p><p>&#8220;Our dogs have so much fun, we like to support the SPCA. It&#8217;s a beautiful day. It&#8217;s a great thing to do, socialize (the animals).&#8221; she explained. &#8220;I think it&#8217;s a great community event and I love to see that all these people came out for it.&#8221;</p><p>The SPCA of Luzerne Couny also has several upcoming fundraisers, including a children and pet trunk-or-treat at Subaru of Wyoming Valley on Oct. 26 in Plains Township.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_spca_walk4_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The owners and their dogs start walking in the SPCA Annual Walk for Animals held Saturday at Frances Slocum State Park. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_spca_walk4_faa.jpg</photo0><caption0>The owners and their dogs start walking in the SPCA Annual Walk for Animals held Saturday at Frances Slocum State Park. </caption0><photoCredit0>Fred Adams|for Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_spca_walk5_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Gayle Slezak of Kingston Township holds her Yorkie Pomeranian mix Oliver, 11, waiting for a blessing from Father Charlie Warwick from St. Clement and St. Peters Episcopal Church in Wilkes-Barre at the Annual Walk for Animals held at Frances Slocum State Park on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_spca_walk5_faa.jpg</photo1><caption1>Gayle Slezak of Kingston Township holds her Yorkie Pomeranian mix Oliver, 11, waiting for a blessing from Father Charlie Warwick from St. Clement and St. Peters Episcopal Church in Wilkes-Barre at the Annual Walk for Animals held at Frances Slocum State Park on Saturday. </caption1><photoCredit1>Fred Adams|for Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_spca_walk2_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Father Charlie Warwick of St. Clement and St. Peters Episcopal Church in Wilkes-Barre blesses the animals before the start of the SPCA Annual Walk for Animals held at Frances Slocum State Park on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_spca_walk2_faa.jpg</photo2><caption2>Father Charlie Warwick of St. Clement and St. Peters Episcopal Church in Wilkes-Barre blesses the animals before the start of the SPCA Annual Walk for Animals held at Frances Slocum State Park on Saturday. </caption2><photoCredit2>Fred Adams|for Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_spca_walk3_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Kathy Zoltewicz of Nanticoke sits on a bench with her miniature Collie Abby, 13, at the SPCA Annual Walk for Animals at Frances Slocum State Park. The walk proved to be a little too much for Abby, and she just had to sit it out. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_spca_walk3_faa.jpg</photo3><caption3>Kathy Zoltewicz of Nanticoke sits on a bench with her miniature Collie Abby, 13, at the SPCA Annual Walk for Animals at Frances Slocum State Park. The walk proved to be a little too much for Abby, and she just had to sit it out. </caption3><photoCredit3>Fred Adams|for Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_spca_walk1_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Mary Ladish of Dallas walks Elsey, a smooth Collie mix, on a trail at Frances Slocum State Park during the SPCA Annual Walk for Animals Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_spca_walk1_faa.jpg</photo4><caption4>Mary Ladish of Dallas walks Elsey, a smooth Collie mix, on a trail at Frances Slocum State Park during the SPCA Annual Walk for Animals Saturday. </caption4><photoCredit4>Fred Adams|for Times Leader </photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Marcella Kester</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

Dogs have their day at SPCA walk