Toppings, marketing director for the Washington Humane Society, is helping lead the end-of-summer charge that includes two major efforts. Registration for the seventh annual D.C. Walk for the Animals recently opened for the Oct. 15 event in Adams Morgan. WHS also is participating in the national ASPCA Adoption Challenge — finding homes for more animals than ever before during August, September and October. What’s up with this year’s Walk for the Animals?
We typically get around 500 participants, so we’re hoping to see that many folks this year. We meet at the Marie Reed Learning Center, the route is about 1 mile and usually takes about 45 minutes. We’re encouraging the public to raise funds to participate, and people can sign up and get their own fund-raising web page. The money supports our programs including adoptions, spay and neuter centers, learning programs, and day-to-day care.
What’s your goal for the ASPCA Challenge?
For us, really every adoption is a victory, so we’re stressing that more than anything else. But our goal is to bring home more than 300 pets a month … August through October. So we’re really doing a lot of special promotions this year.
Like what?
We have a Word of the Day on Facebook. If you give the word [at the shelter] they’ll give you 50 percent off. We’re also running a promotion for free adoption of pit bulls. We feel they’re a misunderstood breed, and we’re trying to restore their reputation as a family pet.
What do we do if we find a stray?
Take him to our shelter on New York Avenue … and we’ll do everything can to find his owners or if the time comes, to place it up for adoption.
— Liz Farmer
