Soggy dogs for a good cause

Dog wash fundraiser benefits Evergreen Animal Protection League

Maya Dawson, Editor in Chief|August 16, 2022

Maya Dawson

Maverick the golden retriever enjoys being dried after his bath.

Special to the Canyon Courier

Sarge the husky eyed the plastic pool in front of him suspiciously. Twenty seconds later, hesitation forgotten, he was lying underneath a mountain of suds as volunteers reminded him what a good boy he was.

The annual Super Sudsy Dog Wash was held on July 30 to benefit the Evergreen Animal Protection League. Volunteers at the event washed 70 dogs and raised over $1,400 for EAPL, TallGrass Salon and Spa manager Michele Lefebvre said.

With a $20 donation, donors received a clean dog, CBD spritzer drink and photos from the event’s dog photo booth.

The event was a community effort. TallGrass sponsored the fundraiser, Ambry Gardens in Kitteridge donated the space and water for the wash, and the Garden’s adjunct business, the Art of Giving, donated 15% of the proceeds from the event to the shelter.

“We’re all willing to give back to the community,” Ambry Gardens owner Steven Cohen said.

Jeff, a puppy from the EAPL shelter, was one of many dogs available for adoption at the event. (Maya Dawson)

The event did more than raise money for EAPL, though. The shelter brought a number of the dogs EAPL has available for adoption to the event. One was adopted and adoption applications were submitted for two others.

Cathleen Timmons, who has worked with EAPL for 14 years, knows firsthand how these donations and adoptions can change the lives of EAPL dogs. Timmons was the cashier at the event, assisted by her two dogs, Remy and Timmy, both adopted from EAPL.

Other volunteers at the event included TallGrass employees and their families in addition to other community members.

After her bath Luna the dog is swaddled in a towel by TallGrass volunteer Shannon Marinos. (Maya Dawson)

“I love seeing the dogs interact with the volunteers. They have these big smiles, or they’re scared, but by the time they get out they’re so happy and just excited to be getting dried off,” TallGrass employee Shannon Marinos said.

EAPL is not supported by taxes and relies on donations and volunteers to operate. Funds raised from the dog wash will go toward the organization’s rescue, shelter and education programs.

For more information on how to support EAPL or to see the dogs they have available for adoption, visit eapl.com.