Dorothy Westerman
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 09/05) - Tuco and Sparky are ready for action in the form of a nice, long walk - or better still, a jog with their owner Ingrid Nielsen.

They'll get their chance Sunday, during the annual NWT SPCA dog jog.

It's a chance for dog owners and their pets to mingle and raise funds and awareness about pet ownership, Nielsen says.

"By having a mass of people participate, it raises the profile of what we are trying to do," Nielsen said.

The fundraising Dog Jog will start off with registration at 11:30 a.m. in the community arena parking lot, followed by the walk at 1 p.m.

Janet Pacey, president of the NWT SPCA, said the entire event is "family-friendly."

"People can socialize with other dog owners and it's a great chance to see all the different varieties of dogs that are in town," Pacey said.

She encourages people to fill up a pledge sheet with donations and join the fun.

"You will see everything from your basic Labs and Golden Retrievers to breeds that people don't know a lot about, like Weimaraners.

"And then there are the little dogs, like the Jack Russell terrier and chihuahuas up to the St. Bernards and Great Danes," Pacey said of the interesting variety of dogs which will gather together for the jog.

Last year, about 120 participated in the event, despite less than favourable weather conditions, she said.

Pacey said the dog jog is one of the larger fundraisers of the year for the SPCA, second only to the calendar.

"It raises between $3,000-$5,000."

Monies raised will go toward medically treating animals at the pound, the spaying or neutering loan and rebate program, and helping find homes for those pets without.