By Jen Samuel, Managing Editor
HIGHTSTOWN — The dogs came out to play at the Sixth Annual Paws Walk on Saturday.
”The dogs just really had a great day,” said organizer Lisa Thibault.
Sixty-nine registered dogs and their owners made their way from the Grace Rogers School in the borough to Association Park. At the park, folks found plenty of activities to keep their dogs busy ranging from a Puppy Playground to Doggy Idol.
The cost to participate in the walk to Association Park was $15 per dog. It marked the annual fund-raiser of the Hightstown Animal Welfare Committee. The group works year round to find loving homes for adoptable stray cats. The organization helps curb the population of wild cats through its Trap-Neuter-Release program.
”Everyone who came said they had a great time and they are looking forward to next year. We were happy,” said Ms. Thibault, of Hightstown, who is an AWC member. She is married to Borough Councilman Robert Thibault.
All proceeds from the Paws Walk registration went to the AWC, which also works to educate the public on animal welfare. The amount raised from the fund-raiser was not available as of press time.
More than 100 people attended the festivities at Association Park which included food, doggie goodies, music, adoptable dogs and prizes.
Among the four dog rescue groups at the Paws Walk event was the East Windsor-based nonprofit Animal Friends for Education and Welfare.
”AFEW participated in the annual PAWS Walk on Saturday, May 19, with a sale table and many pets for adoption. Annabelle, was one of the lucky pups who found her forever home,” said AFEW founder Marilyn Hondorp of East Windsor.
Additional rescue groups included Ewing Animal Shelter Extension League; SAVE of Princeton; and Coast to Coast Dachshund Rescue.
Twin Rivers Animal Hospital and Red Bank Veterinary Hospital also participated.
The event had 20 vendors.
”We’re hoping to get even more (next year),” Ms. Thibault said.
”The Puppy Playground was a big hit,” Ms. Thibault said.
Doggy Idol returned for its second year with “ruffly” 14 dogs competing.
The winner of Doggy Idol 2012 was a boxer pug mix named Bandit.
”Bandit did a variety of stunts, dance (moves, and) high fives,” Ms. Thibault explained.
She continued, “The most unusual act in Doggy Idol was a dog that quacked.”
The judges were Hightstown residents Marty Crabtree and Councilman Thibault. Additionally, last year’s canine winner of Doggy Idol, a two-year-old Australian Shepherd named Summer Furdella, served as the third judge.
”She fit that role perfectly,” Ms. Thibault stated.
Summer’s owner, Jean Furdella, sat with her during the performances.
”It was cute,” Ms. Thibault added.
DJ Ricardo Diaz, who also served as an announcer, provided upbeat music in the park.
”He has his own little dog that he brought,” Ms. Thibault noted.
New this year, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol sent two four-legged members of its Beagle Brigade from Homeland Security.
The team demonstrated how the beagles could sniff out sought items, and in the case of a demonstration, a hidden banana was easily found.
”These little dogs (are) helping to keep us safe,” Ms. Thibault said.
The 2012 Paws Walk proved once again to be a friendly occasion for neighbors, both dogs and humans, to meet one another.
”It’s a small town, so it’s nice. (However) you take for granted that you know everybody in your neighborhood,” Ms. Thibault said, adding that the Paws Walk gave people the chance to catch up.
Further, she said, “It’s amazing to me to get so many dogs together in one place. There’s no issue. People know to bring dogs that are very, very social.”
The Herald publishes a monthly column by AWC titled “Pause for Pets.”
Hightstown’s AWC meets 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. Check the borough’s website, www.hightsotwnborough.com, for the meeting location, as varies.
To learn more about rescue dogs up for adoption, visit www.afewpets.org.

