Meet, greet shelter animals at SCRAPS Dog Jog

In the world of dogs, think of today’s event at the Spokane County Regional Animal Care and Protection Service as a chance to “try before you buy.”

October is Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month. To celebrate, SCRAPS is hosting Dogtoberfest, which includes today’s 1 p.m. Dog Jog.

“The idea was get some people out here that might not ordinarily think about a shelter dog,” explained Trisha Simonet, the event coordinator. “There’s about a two-mile course that people can run, either with their own dog or, better yet, with one of our dogs here at the shelter.

“And since it’s Oktoberfest/Dogtoberfest, we’re also going to have a root beer bar for people afterward.”

There are some wonderful running partners at the shelter.

For example, there’s Tank, a 6-year-old, cocoa-colored Chesapeake Bay retriever with great big eyes and an innate need to love the nearest human being willing to give him a scratch behind the ear. Tank’s adoption chart says he’s a “Sweet and gentle boy” and is “very smart, easy on leash, loves to play fetch and knows sit and stay.”

Across the way is Max, a 6-year-old wire-haired boxer. A little shy at first, Max is “very sweet and loving” and is “good on a leash.”

Near the entrance is Wulffy, a live wire of a mix with black, white and gray hair and the fastest tongue this side of Congress. This bright, sweet, happy female, who would make a marvelous companion for a house full of kids, will need to find a new owner if she’s going to see her first birthday.

As you walk down the hallway and look in each kennel, the looks on the many, varied faces are enough to break your heart. Rottweilers. Pit bull terriers. Australian shepherds. Heelers. Even a bassett hound that more closely resembles a black Lab on cutoff legs. Puppies. Adult dogs. Loving hearts with wet noses all.

There are sad faces peering out from behind the chain link. There are hopeful faces propped up against the gate, the better to get a look at prospective adopters. There are chatty types who like to relay their sad tale of woe to anyone with a receptive ear, and shy types who only know that they’re in desperate need of parole.

“It’s tough here on Tuesdays, when we have to mark the animals that are going to be euthanized,” Simonet said. “Those are tough days for the people who work here – the people who get close to these animals – and the volunteers. Most of our volunteers don’t come in on Wednesdays at all because that’s when it happens.

At midweek, the sign near the counter lists the weekly score. Three animals were retrieved. Three more were adopted. But 18 were brought in.

That score should change today.

“I hope so,” Simonet said. “When people think about getting a new dog, they don’t always think about checking a shelter. We have some really wonderful dogs out there.

“And the interesting thing is, it’s the bigger dogs that really need some extra help. It’s easier to find a home for the smaller dogs.”