The first annual Faux Paws Dog Walk was the brainchild of Karen Partee, wife of Bryan Partee, a Rotarian in the Marshall Rotary Club. Karen and Bryan were the adopted parents of two shelter-held Dachshunds who captured their hearts and filled their lives with joy and companionship.
In 2003, sensing a need to encourage others to adopt shelter animals, the two came up with a plan, called the "Faux Paws Dog Walk". This became a vehicle to raise a few dollars for the local Humane Society and a Rotary Project called Polio Plus. Here are a few excerpts from The Marshall News Messenger story announcing this event, by Lavern Hughey, dated, Sunday, April 13, 2003; and the story reporting on the event a day after it was held by Stephanie Durham, Sunday, April 27, 2003:
[MNM Article, April 13, 2003]
Dogs and their humans will have a chance to strut their stuff at the 1st ever dog walk held in Marshall Saturday April 26. The Marshall Downtown Rotary club invited the Humane Society of Harrison County to participate in the dog walk to raise funds for both organizations. The event called Faux Paws is a one mile walk around downtown Marshall for canines of all kinds.
During Faux Paws, the Humane Society will participate in the American Humane Association National Tag Day project, which encourages all pet owners to have ID tags and pets collars for their pets. An ID tag will help the owner to reclaim the pet.
The Faux Paws dog walk registration is at 9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. during which law enforcement canine units will give demonstrations.
The Faux Paws walk will begin at 10:05 and end at 11:05 with contest results announced and prizes awarded, including the grand prize, a Dogloo valued at $100. Tickets are $2, or, 3 for $5. Faux Paws should be a fun filled Saturday morning for dogs and their human companions.
Additional information and registration forms are at the Marshall animal shelter 607 East End boulevard South and all veterinarian’s offices. The Proceeds from the Faux Paws Dog Walk will benefit the Polio Plus program, a part of Rotary International’s campaign to eradicate polio and the Human Society programs to benefit area companion animals.
If you and your pet can walk a mile come to downtown.
[MNM Article, April 27, 2003]
The dog days of summer aren’t quiet here yet, but it was obvious the 100-plus participants of the Faux Paws dog walk extravaganza downtown, Saturday morning, didn't know that.
Even the music Dr. Dre’s “bow wow wow yippie yo yippy yay” blasting through the speakers had a distinctive four-legged flavor. “The weather was perfect, and the dogs have been great”, said Linda Wilkins of the Harrison County Humane Society. We've had lots of questions about adoptable dogs and have adopted out one that I know of! At least $1000 had been raised for the Humane Society and Rotary club through the event.