Stride for Strays 2009

The 2009 Stride for Strays was a tremendous success! Thanks to all of our sponsors, walkers, teams, vendors, rescue groups and volunteers for all of your support. We had over 500 walkers and raised over $50,000 for the animals!

Even though the walk is over, it's not too late to donate! Click here to make a donation. Every dollar goes a long way to help end pet overpopulation in Tampa Bay.

Stay tuned for more statistics and details soon. Be sure to sign up for our email list so you can stay updated about our future events and specials.

Special thanks to the 2009 Stride for Strays photographer, Sarah Lajevardi of SKL Photography.

Click here for event photos.

Click here for team photos.

Who:

Animal lovers who want to raise money to end pet overpopulation in Tampa Bay while having a great time with their dogs in the park.

What:

Stride for Strays is a fun dog walk and festival to raise life-saving funds for the non-profit ACT Spay/Neuter Clinic. Animal lovers collect donations from their friends, family and co-workers before the event. Then, they participate in a 1 mile walk at Al Lopez Park and receive prizes based on how many donations they collect. The event also includes fun activities, such as demonstrations and pet-friendly vendors. It's an event you won't want to miss!

Where:

The walk will take place at Al Lopez Park, located on Himes Ave. in Tampa.

When:

Saturday, October 31. The fun begins at 9 a.m. and goes through 12 p.m.

Why:

Quite simply, because it saves lives.

In 2008, more than 22,000 companion animals were put down in Hillsborough County. In Pinellas during the same period, almost 15,000 animals met the same cruel fate.

That's over 40,000 animals in one year, in just two counties.

One proven way to reduce this tragedy is to keep them from going into our local shelters to begin with by providing low cost spay and neuter services to people who cannot otherwise afford it. San Francisco has done it. So has New Hampshire. In fact, every community with high-volume, low cost spay/neuter has significantly dropped its euthanasia rate.

ACT is doing just that in the Tampa Bay area. In the first four years of operation, the ACT Clinic has sterilized over 18,000 pets. Its goal is to sterilize 10,000 more within the next year. Since a lot of people cannot afford even ACT's low fees, many of our operations are subsidized by caring individuals and corporations. More generous donations are needed. The more donations we have, the more lives we can save.

Stride for Strays is ACT's major fundraiser. In 2008, the $42,000 we raised was due mostly to the generosity of our individual walkers and teams.

We need your help to do even better in 2009!

Register today, and start collecting donations!