Until recently, she’d had a hard life.
A Great Dane, rescued by the Bytown Association for Rescued Kanines (BARK), had been severely physically abused. The organization placed her in a foster home, where she quickly put on a healthy amount of weight and will soon be ready to go to a new home, said BARK spokeswoman Lynne Miles.
About 500 BARK supporters — and just as many canines — attended the eighth annual Woofs and Wags walkathon at Bruce Pit Sunday.
While the totals aren’t yet in for the fundraiser — the organization’s biggest of the year — money raised goes towards helping dogs in Ottawa and Gatineau.
The walk, which also featured free vet advice, nail clipping and other pet services, is always a reunion of sorts, said Miles.
“A lot of the folks that attended had gotten their animals from BARK,” she said. The organization rescues abused and orphaned animals in the area and gives them veterinary care and places them in foster homes. They are then put up for adoption.
The organization doesn’t euthanize, said Miles.
“That’s the difference. We take animals under our wing that other organizations might not take. They’re never turned away.”
BARK also works with other rescue organizations to help animals, Miles said.
As attendees saw at Sunday’s fundraiser, rescue animals make wonderful pets, Miles said.
“They’re so happy to be with people and other animals,” Miles said. “And most of the animals are like that. They’re just so happy to be given a second chance and they’re so grateful to their owners.”
