Strut Your Mutt returns to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab
Saving lives one step at a time
By Barbara Williamson
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab is one of 14 communities nationwide participating in Strut Your Mutt, which brings passionate people together to raise money to save the lives of homeless pets. On the day of the event, everyone’s fundraising efforts are celebrated with a group dog walk followed by a family-friendly fun-filled festival where four- and two-legged participants of all ages can take part in activities like doggie yoga, pet portraits, music, contests, and more.
Strut Your Mutt will be held in Kanab Sept. 15 at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, from 5 to 8 p.m. The fundraising goal is $40,000. Registration starts at 5 p.m., the walk begins at 6 p.m., and the event ends at 8 p.m.
Kanab is both headquarters for Best Friends Animal Society’s national operations and home to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the nation’s largest no-kill refuge for rescued companion animals. The sanctuary is in southern Utah’s iconic red rock canyon country, creating a gorgeous backdrop for this event.
“Best Friends Strut Your Mutt launched in 1996 in Salt Lake City, and that first year everything that could go wrong did, but we did not give up,” said Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society. “Now Strut Your Mutt is a movement-wide benefit and a primary fundraising platform for hundreds of local rescue groups and shelters around the country. Some groups even raise their entire operating budgets off this one fundraiser. Best Friends produces the events and invites local organizations to use it as a turnkey fundraiser.”
For people interested in saving the lives of homeless pets that don’t live in a city that hosts a live event, there is Strut Your Mutt Day Oct. 27, a virtual fundraiser that allows people to raise funds online for Best Friends Animal Society or a participating local animal welfare group in their area. Last year, more than 200 people raised more than $100,000 for lifesaving programs, such as spay and neuter services, adoption events, and more. To get involved, start your own fundraising page, or donate to an existing team, please visit strutyourmutt.org.
Every day in America’s shelters, more than 4,100 dogs and cats are killed simply because they don’t have safe places to call home. But if we work together, we can reduce that number to zero. Best Friends Strut Your Mutt Kanab is an important community event to help save animals’ lives. Nationally, the fundraising goal is $2.4 million. Each year, hundreds of partnering organizations participate in Strut Your Mutt to raise money needed to save lives in their own communities. Together in 2017, 300 Best Friends Network partners raised nearly $2 million.
Best Friends Animal Society is the only national animal welfare organization based in Utah. Best Friends is dedicated to making the United States no-kill by 2025 and is helping local animal rescue groups and shelters raise funds for their lifesaving work. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is located at 5001 Angel Canyon Road in Kanab.
