Mutts Strut Their Stuff At PAWS Fundraiser
By John McDevitt
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - An annual fundraiser for a Philadelphia animal rescue organization was held Saturday inside the Philadelphia Navy Yard.
It's called the "Mutt Strut." A couple thousand people and their pooches participated in a 1.5 mile walk to raise money for the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society -- or PAWS.
"PAWS is Philadelphia's largest rescue organization," says executive director Melissa Levy, "and we are totally donor-funded, so every animal that we save and find a home for depends on the generosity of our supporters.
She says the event gets bigger and raises a little bit more money each year:
"That money is used all year long to save the animals who are waiting for us."
Saturday's event featured food trucks, vendors and a canine costume contest.
John Harrington of South Philly and his girlfriend, Allison Gelcius, brought their Beagles Bandit and Copper along dressed as a hamburger and hot dog.
"This is the Halloween costume," John says. "Choices that we went with they just fit their personalities and shapes and sizes."
A couple dozen dogs looking for forever homes were also there.
Louise of South Philadelphia went home with a 13 week puppy named Sox:
"I was little nervous cause of being a puppy, but I couldn't walk away from him. I just had to take him."
Many other dogs were adopted on the spot.
