Humans can ‘strut’ on Saturday to help raise awareness of animal rescue | News, Sports, Jobs

The Best Friends Animal Society’s annual Strut Your Mutt is back with a virtual fundraiser that allows animal lovers from across the country to raise funds for their favorite local animal shelter, rescue or welfare organization. . Last year’s event raised over $ 1.5 million.

Strut Your Mutt Day 2021 will take place on Saturday, and although it is primarily a virtual event, many Best Friends Network partners across the country have scheduled in-person outdoor walks. Those interested in getting their pet involved in Strut Your Mutt can visit the Facebook accounts of one of the organizations involved. They will be walking in a number of parks along the Wasatch Front.

Another easy way to maximize Strut Your Mutt’s rescue efforts is to use ResQwalk, a free mobile app that allows people to support their favorite animal welfare organization just by getting out and moving. This year, ResQWalk is integrated with Strut Your Mutt, so people can now track their ResQWalks and mileage in your fundraising center.

Joe Gatto, star of Impractical Jokers and The Misery Index, is the official spokesperson for Strut Your Mutt this year, with his nine rescue dogs featured in his book “The Dogfather”.

“I can’t imagine my life without rescue dogs and recognize how many animals there are out there that still need our help. I couldn’t be more excited to support the right people at Best Friends Animal Society and have fun at this amazing event, ”said Gatto.

Walkers can register for free on http://strutyourmutt.org join Strut Your Mutt as individuals or as members of a team. The event is not limited to dogs and the people who love them. Many feline organizations have also benefited from the program. The website provides walkers with innovative and interactive fundraising tools to share on social media and raise funds for the animal welfare group of their choice.

Participants can also follow the fun on the Strut your Facebook pooch page. The fun begins at 7 a.m. MST with a welcome from Gatto, followed by participants from across the country at 9 a.m., best costume and best kiss contests at 11 a.m., highlights and awards at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. , and a special closing by Gatto at 3.15 p.m.

“Best Friends is so grateful to Joe for helping to raise awareness and fundraise for Strut Your Mutt. The past year has been incredibly difficult for shelters and animal welfare organizations, so funds are more than ever before. needed to empower this important life-saving work, ”said Holly Sizemore, Chef de Mission for Best Friends Animal Society.

In Utah, local shelters and relief organizations that will receive funds include:

• CAWS (Community Society for the Protection of Animals)
• Herd Haven
• Nuzzles and Co
• RSQ dogs
• Salt Lake County Animal Services
• Second chance for homeless animals
• Animal rights in Utah

While the majority of these organizations are based in Salt Lake County, their work with animals extends beyond county boundaries.

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