Leashed dogs playfully licked one another’s faces Sunday afternoon as crowds strutted around Sunnyside Park to raise money for the construction of Pullman’s first dog park.

Although the Mutt Strutt fell short of meeting its $32,000 goal, Trevor Bice, a Board of Directors member for Whitman County Humane Society, deemed it a significant milestone for the organization’s fundraising efforts. “We raised a little under $6,000,” Bice said. “I think it was a huge success for the first annual walk.” Bice said the park will be completed around the fall of 2010, but he mentioned this estimate is subject to change because the project is dependent on the community’s generosity. Lori Ammons, a member of the Pullman Dog Park Committee, attended the walk with her two dogs, Pawsley and Cinnamon. Ammons was awarded with five nights at the Red Lion Hotel in Anaheim, Calif., and round-trip airfare from Horizon Air for two, for raising $1,800 to support the project. As a dog owner, she believes there is a huge need for a dog park in Pullman. “On average police write six citations per day in Pullman public parks to people who have their dog off-leash,” she said. “The city also puts out a survey, and 80 percent of the people who responded said a dog park was needed. There is certainly a need for a dog park based on the volume of people and dogs in the area.” Ammons said there are also a number of safety issues for people who let their dogs run off-leash in Pullman. “There are other animals out there such as coyotes, hawks and owls that can endanger smaller animals,” she said. “A hawk could pick up a tiny Chihuahua and eat it for dinner. Animals such as these do not tend to go where there’s a gathering of people.” She also emphasized that there are diseases dogs can pick up if they’re out in water sources that other wild animals use. “They’re a family pet, and you want them to be safe,” she said. Located adjacent to the Fireside Grill, the park will sit on five acres of land and will contain two fenced-off sections –s one for big dogs and one for small dogs, Bice said. It will be fully grassed and landscaped with fountains, underground sprinklers and various toys for dogs to play on, he said.

The park will be open to anyone who wants to be a member, and the cost will be very affordable, Bice said.

“This project appealed to me because I have two dogs, and I know much they need open space to run off-leash,” he said. “Pets are social animals.” Heather Kelley, the event coordinator of Mutt Strutt, said WSU students could largely benefit from the construction of the park. “I knew lots of friends who have dogs, and they’re stuck in the apartments. They don’t have a yard to run around in; they don’t get the chance to get out and play with other dogs," she said. Bice believes the park will be advantageous for both dogs and people. “Other than the benefits to dogs, the benefits to this community are huge,” he said. “The community is full of dog lovers. It will give us a place to gather and become friends.”