Published: March 20, 2008 10:43 pm            

Walk to benefit Canine Partners for Life

For the fifth year, the Hardy family of New Waverly is planning an event that not only offers a day of fun activities for Walker County residents, but also their canine companions.

The Paws America Pledge Walk will take place April 12 at the Veterinary Hospital of New Waverly.

Registration for the fundraiser will begin at 9:30 a.m.

All funds raised during the walk — held in conjunction with the veterinary hospital’s pet fair — will benefit the Canine Partners for Life (CPL) organization.

Sue Hardy, wife of Karl and mother of Jimmy Hardy, said her family started the walk four years ago, after they experienced firsthand the life-changing benefits of CPL.

“CPL is an organization that raises, trains and places service dogs with disabled youth and adults,” Hardy said. “The walk began with us, after my son, Jimmy, received a service dog from CPL.”

As a high school senior in 2000, Hardy said Jimmy, who suffers from cerebral palsy, got paired through CPL with Drummer — a large lab that would become one of his closest friends.

“At first, I didn’t think we were ready for anything like (a fundraiser event) but Jimmy said we needed to give back to CPL,” Hardy said. “We were so fortunate to see the change in his life and we were so excited about what CPL and what Drummer did for him.”

The walk will include a live auction, games, contests for the dogs, vendors, food, as well as a demonstration by Jimmy and Drummer.

Before Drummer, Hardy said Jimmy used canes and walkers to help him walk and do everyday activities, and she was certain there was a better way to help him.

After researching service dogs and organizations in Texas and beyond, the Hardy’s received help straight from CPL headquarters in Cochranville, Pa.

“Jimmy and Drummer became partners when they graduated from an intensive three-week boot camp — according to Jimmy — of training,” Hardy said. “Now, with Drummer, 9, and Jimmy, 25, the partnership is much more than a man and his dog.

“Jimmy calls Drummer his ‘little brother’ because they ‘are as close as brothers.’ ”

Since 2004, the Paws America Pledge Walk in New Waverly has raised $23,000.

“We started with about 30 people and eight dogs (at our first walk) and still raised more than $2,000,” Hardy said. “We’ve grown to more than 100 people and 30-40 dogs and raised $8,400 last year.”

With the placement of one dog and assistance thereafter costing $20,000, the Hardys and other donors have been able to place one service dog through CPL with their funds.

Although one dog doesn’t seem like much, to the Hardys, it means the world.

“We can never give back to that organization in the way that they have given to our family,” Hardy said. “I like to say that Texas has provided a service to someone somewhere and now they will have a better life like Jimmy.

“If you think about the New Waverly and Huntsville communities and how many service organizations need support — everyone’s asking for a piece of the pie. I believe we’ve raised a significant amount of money.

“Walker County (residents) have got the biggest hearts in Texas.”

In addition to raising funds for CPL, the Hardys have also dedicated time to the promoting education and awareness about service dogs to anyone who wants to learn.

“Jimmy and Drummer have done demos at (Sam Houston State University), with 4-H groups in Navasota and Grimes County, at the Texas Children’s Hospital and the Huntsville Lions Club — anyone who asks, we say yes,” Hardy said.

Hardy said because of Jimmy and Drummer, three other people in the area have gotten their own service dog and are living happier lives.

Service dogs are placed with people who have muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, epilepsy and more, Hardy said.

“If you walk around Walker County, you’ll walk a long time before you’ll see a service dog. We have disabled people here who need help. They just don’t know what’s out there — we’ll tell them.”

For the first time, Hardy said the walk will begin with a Grand Parade of Dogs with Katie Kriesel named as Grand Marshal.

“Katie has a daughter-in-law who works for CPL,” Hardy said. “She drives to New Waverly every year for the event. She sits all day and registers everyone for the walk, items for the auction and records all the results.

“Someone who is that dedicated deserves some recognition and that’s why she will be named as Grand Marshal — she doesn’t even know it yet.”

Hardy said planning the walk would not be possible without the help of several other organizations in New Waverly and Huntsville.

“The New Waverly High School Beta Club is really our hands and our feet through this event as far as having people to help man the event and prepare,” Hardy said. “The Lions Clubs in Huntsville and New Waverly, Huntsville Pets Helping People, Rita B. Huff and the Veterinary Hospital of New Waverly have all been very supportive.”

No matter how much money is raised, Hardy said her family just wants to help others like CPL has helped them.

“It means he can be independent,” Hardy said. “I got to watch Jimmy walk across the stage with his class on graduation. Not with a walker or a cane — with Drummer.

“That’s the highlight for me.”

For more information, to be a vendor, make a pledge or donate an item to the auction, contact Hardy at suebhardy@yahoo.com or (936) 344-6293.

        

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