Community Media of South Central PA
The Rick and Sally Meyers Animal Shelter of Adams County, PA, is holding its 21st Annual Loyalty Walk on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at the Gettysburg Area Middle School. This is the shelter’s largest fundraising event of the year. The shelter is owned by the Adams County SPCA.
The Walk will begin at approximately 9:00 a.m. with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. All walkers are welcome to participate, with or without dogs. Participants are asked to obtain pledge materials in advance at the shelter, 11 Goldenville Rd. in Gettysburg, or go to the shelter’s website at meyersshelter.org to print out registration and pledge forms.
The Loyalty Walk is named in honor of the dogs who accompanied soldiers in the Civil War. One of those dogs present at the Battle of Gettysburg was Sallie, a bull terrier who was the mascot of the 11th Pennsylvania Volunteers. Veterans of her unit remembered her many years later by placing a bronze statue of her likeness on the Battlefield which is located along Doubleday Avenue. Sallie survived the battle at Gettysburg, but was later killed at Hatcher’s Run in Virginia.
All Loyalty Walk participants who raise $50 or more will receive 2011 Loyalty Walk T-Shirt. Persons not pre-registered can register and make a pledge the day of the event.
Hot dogs, coffee, soda bake sale items and other snacks will be available for purchase before, during and after the walk. Gift baskets with assorted people and dog items will also be raffled. All proceeds will directly benefit the shelter.
In the event of rain, the Walk will be held on Sunday, May 1, 2011 with registration beginning at 12:30 p.m. and the Walk at 1:00 p.m.
The Adams County SPCA is an IRC 501 c-3 non-profit organization that receives approximately 8% of its annual operating budget of over $500,000 from the county and municipalities combined. It is not a county agency. The organization provides shelter and care for lost, abandoned and abused animals, investigates and prosecutes cruelty cases, helps control animal overpopulation and educates the community about spay/neuter programs, animal wellness and safety. In 2010, the shelter took in over 3,000 animals from Adams County.
The shelter relies on memberships, grants, donations and fundraising events like the Loyalty Walk to keep its doors open.
