The Rotary Club of Gig Harbor Midday presented a $2,000 Check to Beth Rivard, Executive Director of Prison Pet Partnership, from the funds raised at the Harbor Hounds. Prison Pet Partnership is a non-profit organization located on the grounds of the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor. They rescue and train homeless animals to provide service dogs for persons with disabilities and operate a boarding and grooming facility to provide vocational education for women inmates. The program benefits all involved — the animals who are given the chance to lead lives of service, the inmates who learn valuable skills so they may find gainful employment upon release, and the individuals with disabilities who receive well-trained dogs to help increase their level of independence.
Beth shared with the club a few success stories of recently released women inmates who are now fully employed as groomers and going back to school. The Prison Pet Partnership program helps the released inmates to become contributing members of the community and to stay out of prison. Their 2013 charity “Bark and Bid’ auction will be held on May 11th at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center. See the web site http://www.prisonpetpartnership.org for more information.
Annual Harbor Hounds Charity Dog Walk is run by the Rotary Club of Gig Harbor Midday. Hundreds of people and their dogs participate in a leisurely walk along the beautiful Gig Harbor waterfront. In addition, a number of fun contests are conducted to show off the dogs. Categories include: Best Tricks, Best Kisser (the dog), Best Tail Wagger, Best Dressed, and our fun musical Sit and Stay contest. See the web site www.harborhounds.org for more information on registration and how to become a sponsor. The 2013 Walk takes place on Saturday, September 14th, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.