ONTARIO, Ohio — Maize Memorial Dog Park Fundraiser Organizer Karen Leedom is hoping for sunshine as she prepares for the group’s first annual Tabitha Hancock Dog Walk Fundraiser, which is to take place Saturday, July 18 at Marshall Park in Ontario from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The dog walk was originally scheduled for June 27. When the weather turned cold and rainy, organizers decided to postpone the walk for a later date, hoping the weather would clear.
“We plan on having water pools for the dogs, but Mother Nature might provide that for us,” Fundraiser Organizer Karen Leedom said Friday morning, during a rain storm.
Tabitha Hancock, Leedom explained, was a volunteer supporter for Maize Memorial Dog Park. In March 2015, she unexpectedly died of a heart attack. She was in her forties.
“She had a dog named Charlie,” said Leedom. Hancock had hoped to use the dog park for Charlie, who is now in Hancock’s parents’ care. When she died, Maize Memorial Dog Park volunteers decided to hold a dog walk in her memory.
The dog walk is also a fundraising event. Funds raised and proceeds will go toward erecting a fence for the Maize Memorial Dog Park in Marshall Park. Leedom said the group still needs around $7,500 for the fence’s supplies and construction.
The event starts at 9 a.m. for registration, followed by opening remarks from Ontario Mayor Randy Hutchinson at 9:45 a.m. near the baseball fields off of Shelby-Ontario Road in Ontario. Following his remarks, attendees will walk with their dogs down to Marshall Park’s pavilion off Milligan Road, a walk just shy of one mile, said Leedom.
“Once here (at the pavilion), this will be the hub of activities. We’ll have corn hole games, pin the tail, a parade of dogs. Linda’s Mobile Grooming Palace will be here doing nail clippings [for dogs],” said Leedom. She said dog related toys and treats will be available for purchase from local vendors. Raffle prizes and 50/50 tickets will also be available for purchase.
For a full schedule of events for Saturday and to pre-register, visit their website.
Leedom said she looks forward to the Maize Memorial Dog Park. Her dog, Bella, needs the exercise, she said.
“I got her when she was 18 months old, and she needed lots of exercise. She was rescued from the puppy mill, and had socializing issues. She was kept in a crate for a long time, but she’s doing well now,” said Leedom.
She said she used to take Bella to Wooster’s dog parks twice per week. She’s also traveled to Delaware and Toledo, she said.
“I met two people in Delaware that said they moved there just because of the dog park,” said Leedom. “Dog parks are very popular.”
