June 26, 2011

White Dog dismissed the groaning when she set the rendezvous time at 7:30am. She knew our heat wave was to continue but wanted to make sure the White Dog Army got their weekend exercise. Besides, there was an important task at hand...we were going to start mapping out the walking course around Rotary Park that all of the participants would follow for our September 25 2 Million Dog Puppy Up New Mexico! Walk to raise awareness and $$ for cancer research benefiting both pups and humans.

We met Gregg, Candace, Dragon and Senge and all together had a close approximation of a small walking pack. This was important for planning purposes, White Dog strategized because when you have 200 people and their dogs all walking together (which is our goal) there are LOTS of considerations...like bottle necks...and the path being too narrow...or too distracting (Senge was our expert in finding these spots)...and making sure the route was handicapped friendly (we want everyone to be able to participate)!

Gregg and Candace had smartly downloaded pedometers to their phones so we could measure the distances. Everyone grouped together and at White Dog's command, headed off. The first prospect, which seemed inviting got us tangled in an ever narrower path that eventually tapered out to nothingness. So we went back to the starting point and tried a different approach.

Over the course of an hour and a half we blocked out a mile long main route which meets all our criteria. The WDA also discovered some side loops to extend the course which we will return and scope out another time (it was beginning to get hot). Everyone was very helpful in the study of how the group spread out, then grouped together, and lost interest. Because of the time spent, the Walk will hopefully go more smoothly and we can next start to think about extending the route and how to mark/sign it. But for today White Dog decreed, the WDA, the Honorary White Dog, and the White Puppy had completed their task and had earned blue corn pancakes and bacon.

Please note the widget on the sidebar asking for your support in funding our participation in the 2 Million Dog Walk. This year, we are proud to announce that with the help of some very special kindred, the White Dog Army is not just Walking in the Event...we are organizing the inaugural New Mexico Puppy Up!

This is a cause we in the White Dog Army all feel passionately about. cancer is caner (I refuse to use a capital letter here). It has taken too many that we love...both two- and four-legged. It must be stopped and this is one way that we know to fight. 2 Million Dogs raises awareness and funds research in canine cancer and comparative oncology.

Research has shown us that dogs and humans get the same types of cancers. If we study already existing cancers in our canine companions, we can help develop not only better treatments for them, but also better treatments for humans as well. Because these studies will also help reduce the cost of treatment for the animals involved, more people will be able to afford to have their companions treated for this deadly disease. There IS hope but we need every one's help in ridding the world of this scourge.

Please help however you can. White Dog, The Other White Dog, Another White Dog, Still Another White Dog, and Yet Another White Dog woo our plea knowing you understand...
Cancer.Touches.Everyone.