Everyone needs shelter, food and water – including dogs. That’s why the Humane Society of Richland County hosts the Strutt Your Mutt Canine Festival each year, and has been for 12 years now. This year it will be held Sept. 12 and 13.
This year, the organization’s goal is to raise $15,000 by attracting dog owners and lovers to the different activities the canine festival features. According to Director Mike Vetter, Strutt Your Mutt grows larger each year, and they don’t plan on stopping the growth.
“Other counties go big, why shouldn’t we too?” said Vetter.
This year the festival will include the Akron-Canton Terrier Club for lure coursing, musical sits (the dog version of musical chairs), an egg and spoon race, a treat toss challenge, a demo from the Richland County K-9 Unit, and more than $4,000 in raffle prizes.
Vetter said that different businesses from around Richland County will be sponsors to certain events to include more of the community.
Also part of the festival will be the walk-a-thon and 5K race, hosted by Ohio Race Day. Each participant is encourage to download a pledge sheet on the website to earn money for the organization and for a chance to win prizes.
Vetter said that this year the Humane Society for Richland County would like to raise enough funds to be able to add on to their location on State Route 309, or Park Avenue West. The addition would allow the humane society to spay and neuter pets.
According to Vetter, currently the Humane Society of Richland County transports their dogs and cats to a clinic in Upper Sandusky, The Hope Clinic. This weekly trip is costly, so the addition to the existing building would help mitigate the cost Vetter said.
“We would like to get our own spay and neuter clinic, locally, to really become a resource for the community,” said Vetter.
Vetter and his daughter are dog lovers. He has been Director of the Strutt Your Mutt festival for two years now, and his daughter a volunteer at the Humane Society in Ontario.
“We had Norwegian Elkhounds growing up. Currently, at home we just have cats. But going to the shelter once to twice a week we kind of get our dog fix. Sydney’s (his daughter) really good about cleaning and feeding the dogs when she goes,” shared Vetter.
The Strutt Your Mutt Canine Festival will take place on Sept. 12 and 13 at the Richland County Fairgrounds on Home Road. For more information on how to donate to the Humane Society of Richland County, visit their website.
