The Wiener 500 Dachshund Races, to be held on Saturday, September 22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Seventh Street Landing Park, is the second fundraiser to benefit PAWS of Southwest that On Tap Magazine has organized this year. So don your lederhosen and alpine hats and come on down to The Wharf for German-style Negra Modelo, food and fun! This is a free event, open to the public, but you must be 21+ to consume alcohol. Official after-party at Cantina Marina – dogs welcome. Want to race your dog? Your $20 entry fee goes to Paws of Southwest. For more information and to enter a race dog visit www.ontaponline.com/race or call 703-465-0500. Rain date Saturday, September 29.
Earlier this year, PAWS of Southwest received $1500 from a similar event when 66 chihuahuas raced at the First Annual Running of the Chihuahus, held for Cinco de Mayo and also organized by On Tap Magazine with support from Cantina Marina. The event drew people from the immediate neighborhood, all parts of the District, and friends from Alexandria, Arlington and parts of Maryland.
PAWS of Southwest is made up of long-standing and newly established SW residents who are seeking to build an off-leash park to exercise and socialize their dogs. A formal application to establish a dog park was submitted in April, 2012 and the group is awaiting a final decision from the District of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation. More than 200 people signed a petition in support of a dog park and the group enjoys the support of a number of neighborhood churches, commercial establishments and townhouse and condo associations, as well as elected officials. Southwest is the only quadrant in the District of Columbia lacking the amenities of an off-leash dog park.
PAWS of Southwest is an active member of the newly established Friends of Lansburgh Park and recently helped to organize a series of Movie Nights at Lansburgh Park. The group will continue to support programming at Lansburgh Park and throughout Southwest. To join and participate, please befriend PAWS of Southwest on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/
Courtesy of Bridget Gonzales Young, PAWS of Southwest