April 25 has been selected as the next date for the Humane Society Walk for Animals. In the event of rain, the walk will be held May 2.

This year’s walk will take on an added theme — a Critter Walk for the Cure of Cancer. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Relay for Life.

The one-mile walk will be held at Ellerbe Springs Restaurant and Inn in Ellerbe. Registration will begin at 10 a.m and the walk will conclude at 2 p.m. The cost is $10 per walker/animal with $5 for each additional animal. Walkers will receive a goodie bag with doggy doody cleanup supplies.

A pet photographer will be available and a owner/pet look-a-like contest will be open to all walkers. Owner Jim Lane will have food items available for purchase or walkers may bring a bag lunch.

Animal lovers who are currently not pet owners are also invited to participate in the Walk for Animals. A number of adoptable shelter dogs will be available for walking and hopefully will go home with a new family.

Pledge form packets are available at the animal shelter for walkers to start gathering monetary pledges. Schools and civic groups are urged to participate. Trophies will be awarded to the top three walkers.

The HSRC Walk Committee is currently seeking vendors, raffle/prize items sponsors, and $50 individual/business/corporate sponsors. T-shirt and drink sponsors are urgently needed. Sponsor signs will line the walking trail at Ellerbe Springs.

For every $50 donation the Humane Society receives, the animal shelter can:

— supply litter for 50 cats for 10 days.

— feed 36 small puppies for 10 days.

— give 25 dogs and cats a one year rabies vaccine.

— give 14 dogs or cats an annual distemper vaccine.

— give nine dogs a heartworm test.

— make two cats Lucky Pets, lowering their adoption fees to $35

— spay or neuter one average size dog (with rabies vaccine) preventing the birth of 30 pups in one year.

Economic hardship in our community has increased the numbers of animals released to the shelter, according to director Candy Bacon. Call Bacon at 895-0335 or 205-1596 or Valerie Davis at 334-0275 for more information. Humane Society board members are available to pick up raffle or prize items. Donation checks should be mailed to HSRC, P.O. Box 2064, Rockingham, NC, 28380.

Donations can also be dropped at the animal shelter located at 529 U.S. Highway 74 West, Rockingham. Public hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday noon to 5 p.m., Saturday noon to 4 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. The shelter is closed to the public on Wednesday.