The National Humane Education Society (NHES), holds several events each year to raise money for its programs Spay Today and The Briggs Animal Adoption Center.

Tails on Trails

Each spring, NHES begins the season with Tails on Trails 5K & 10K Walk/Run. Held at the beautiful State Arboretum of Virginia at Blandy Experimental Farm in Boyce, Virginia, this event benefits Spay Today. Participants can run or walk by themselves, or bring along their canine companion. Runners have the option of being timed for either the 5K or 10K course.

People have the opportunity to “Sponsor a Shelter Dog,” allowing dogs currently available for adoption at The Briggs Animal Adoption Center to attend the event. These dogs are walked by trained volunteers and are present during the walk for participants to meet. Those whom sponsor a shelter dog have their names added to the back of the event t-shirt, which each sponsor and participant receives upon completion of the walk/run. This event is a great opportunity for people to enjoy a fun-filled day while supporting Spay Today.

In 2022, Tails on Trails will be held on Saturday, March 26th. To register please visit: https://www.spay-today.org/get-involved/tails/

 

Pedal for Pooches

Pedal for Pooches is a self-paced ride designed for recreational or serious cyclists. Participants can enjoy a beautiful ride through Jefferson and Clarke counties on courses either 9, 16, 21, 30 or 36 miles long. SAG support and rest stops are provided for riders. All courses are flat to rolling with the occasional hill and are tandem friendly.

The ride begins and ends at The Briggs Animal Adoption Center (BAAC) in Charles Town, West Virginia. In its 19th year of existence, Pedal for Pooches is one of The National Humane Education Society’s flagship events to benefit The BAAC. Riders from all over visit the Center to ride in support of our animals and tour our facilities.  NHES President Jim Taylor established the President’s Ride where supporters can pledge his participation in the event. As the President’s Ride has grown, many BAAC and NHES staff members have initiated similar fundraisers and have their friends and family pledge their rides.

For more details on Pedal for Pooches 2022  please click here.

Cool to Care Camp

Every year, NHES hosts a Cool to Care Camp for children in grades 1 through 9 at The Briggs Animal Adoption Center. Each session runs Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. NHES humane educators make learning fun with outdoor games, arts and crafts, service projects, and interaction with shelter pets! Campers also enjoy guest speaker presentations from amazing animal professionals – including K9 teams, wildlife rehabilitators, and specially trained therapy dogs.

There are three different sessions of Cool to Care Camp, broken down by age. Pet Pals is for rising 1st through 3rd graders and allows children to learn about pet care, kind and safe interactions with pets, the importance of animal adoption and wildlife in the mid-Atlantic region. Rising 4th through 6th graders can attend the Humane Heroes session where they will learn about animal adoption, pet care, spay and neuter, as well as humane training techniques and wildlife conservation. The oldest children, rising 7th through 9th graders, attend the Animal Ambassadors session which teaches about animal adoption, responsible pet ownership, the importance of spay and neuter, humane training methods, wildlife conservation and basics of animal advocacy.

In 2022, Cool to Care Camp will be scheduled as follows, details to be announced:

• Pet Pals: June 27-July 1
• Humane Heroes: July 11-15
• Animal Advocates: July 25-29

 

Footin’ for Animals

Footin’ for Animals 5K & 10K Walk/Run serves as the fall counterpart to Tails on Trails. Also held at the State Arboretum of Virginia at Blandy Experimental Farm in Boyce, Virginia, this event benefits The Briggs Animal Adoption Center. Participants can run or walk by themselves, or bring along their canine companion. Runners have the option of being timed for either the 5K or 10K course.

Just as with Tails on Trails, people have the opportunity to “Sponsor a Shelter Dog,” allowing dogs currently available for adoption at The Briggs Animal Adoption Center to attend the event. These dogs are walked by trained volunteers and are present during the walk for participants to meet. Those whom sponsor a shelter dog have their names added to the back of the event t-shirt, which each sponsor and participant receives upon completion of the walk/run. Enjoy the beautiful fall foliage at the arboretum while supporting the work of The BAAC.

In 2022, Footin’ for Animals will be held on Sunday, November 6th. Details to be announced.