Lakeshore PAWS Holds 2nd Annual Run for Paws

Lakeshore PAWS held their 2nd Annual Run for Paws event at Sunset Hill Park in Valparaiso Sunday night. The event had an amazing turnout with pet owners flocking from all over the region to see the puppies, dogs, kittens and cats that are up for adoption.

Lakeshore PAWS is a non-profit organization that is based around volunteer support. The organization was founded by Jeanne Sommer and Kim Langer. The organization began operations in April of 2011 and held its first Run for Paws event in August of the same year. After the amazing turnout from that run, Lakeshore PAWS decided to continue the race.

The goal of the event is to get as many homeless animals in loving homes as possible at the adoption drive held each year. The event also hosted a vendor fair that allowed pet owners to find what services are available for their pet.

“Heather Henderlong, she runs TNH timing, it really came from her. She said incorporate the race and then why not add a dog run as well,“
Jeanne Sommer said.


People can get involved with Lakeshore PAWS for either adoption or volunteer work by visiting them of Facebook or going to their website LakeshorePAWS.org.

This year, Porter Health decided that the company would participate in the event bringing many Porter employees out to Sunset Hill Park to adopt animals and help support Lakeshore PAWS.

“When we ask our associates and staff members about which charities in the region that they feel are important to support, Lakeshore PAWS was one of the top five or six right up there with Porter County Cancer Society,”
Porter CEO Jonathan Nali said. “People see the
beauty and benefit to pets and what dogs do in the lives of people, so it is important to us to support this.”

McAfee Animal Hospital of Valparaiso was on hand to install microchip implants in dogs at the event so, in the case that a dog goes missing, the chip can be scanned and the dog can be returned to the owner.

Many vendors were out at the event and ready to help people with adoption plans and to provide services to pets that a person owns.

“We love to support Lakeshore PAWS, the best dogs are rescue dogs and we have had two,” Leslee Kretz said.

Kretz was a race participant and just adopted a dog from Lakeshore PAWS which was named Fenway by her husband after his favorite baseball team’s stadium, Fenway Park.

Martin Binder again provided the awards for the runners this year.  Each winner, 15 men and 15 women received an engraved Dog Tag.
T&H Timing was again on hand to oversee the run and the course for the half-mile dog/handler walk and the 5K Cross Country Run through the park. The top five runners from the men and women groups are below. Full race results can be found here.

Men

1)    Alex Seeley, 17:34.2
2)    Andrew Lyp, 17:36.3
3)    Nick Coros, 19:49.2
4)    Josh Gambill, 20:10.8
5)    Joe Hudak, 22:14.3

Women
1)    Racheal Marcand, 17:35.5
2)    Erin Stanek, 22:59.2
3)    Kelly Lyp, 25:52.4
4)    Kristen Stapay, 25:55.8
5)    Julie Peller, 27:11.4

The race and adoption event is expected to continue next year.

For photos of the event, click here!