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By Sergio Lopez, Jr.

Staff Writer

411whittier.com

WHITTIER – In a continuing effort to bring a special park for canines and their human companions to Whittier, some 300 to 400 people came out in force Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013 for the fourth “Paws 4 a Cause” at the Palm Park trailhead along the Greenway Trail.

The successful event brought the Whittier Dog Park Task Force and the Whittier Community Foundation closer to their goal of establishing a dog park in Whittier planned for an area north of Philadelphia Street between Gregory Avenue and the Greenway Trail.

According to Jeff Lopez, management assistant for the city’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, the event drew 110 registered furry friends and raised about $10,000 for the Whittier Community Foundation.

“It was our most successful event of the past four years running,” Lopez said.

The morning began with registration for a 3-K walk/run and a “Mini-Mutt March,” then went into a performance by members of the Disc Dogs of Southern California and their high-flying, disc-catching canines.

Shortly afterward, dogs and their owners lined up and started down the Greenway Trail, with the smaller pups heading toward Palm Avenue, while bigger dogs raced to Norwalk Boulevard and back.

Whittier High School cheerleaders encouraged participants and welcomed them back from their runs with cheers usually reserved for Friday night football games. As noon neared, a dog fashion show commenced. Dogs and their owners participated in three categories, which included a “Cutest” group as well as a “Funniest” and an “Owner Look-a-Like” class. The day came to a close with another performance by the Disc Dogs.

The addition of a Whittier dog park means the city will join the ranks of Pasadena, West Covina and Downey as places for canines to congregate with their owners.

Sergio Lopez Jr. can be reached at bmsurg5@gmail.com