Take Your Family for a Walk!

Today, the Missions Committee hosted a drive-through donation drive to benefit Foothills Animal Rescue, Sunshine Dog Rescue, and the P.E.T. Pantry at the Vista Del Camino Food Bank. We can’t wait to hear about how successful this event was, and if you didn’t have a chance to stop by, encourage you to consider supporting these organizations in any way you can – whether it’s through donating pet toys and accessories, food and treats, or monetary donations, by volunteering, or perhaps even by taking a pet into your own home!

Regardless of whether you currently have a dog or cat in your home, this week you and your family can partake in some of the fringe benefits of pet ownership by taking yourselves on a walk...with the excitement and curiosity you’d observe if you were walking a dog! Choose a time to go forth into your neighborhood (as dog owners will tell you, early morning or early evening, just as the sun begins to go down, are great times to do this, at least in Arizona), and get to know your neighborhood on foot. You’ll find that every bush deserves to be examined (and perhaps sniffed!). Each patch of grass will become an opportunity to feel the soft ground under your feet – if you’re feeling adventurous, you can even take your shoes off and let the grass tickle your toes.

You may also discover a special sense of community with those of your neighbors who are out walking at the same time as you. In this season of renewal, as we begin to reconnect with the people around us, say hello to the people you pass on your walk (but in this case, leave the sniffing to the actual dogs). Whether you stop and chat or keep on walking, you’ll find yourself feeling more deeply woven into the fabric of your community.

Perhaps your family, like some dogs, does not have the time, or is not ready to embark on a long, luxurious sojourn through your neighborhood – that’s okay! Even walking a few houses down and then returning home is an opportunity to breath deeply, turn your face up to the sky, and appreciate the gifts your neighborhood has to offer. And when you return home, perhaps you’ll also have a renewed appreciation for having a soft place to lay your head.

If you take your family’s pets, or humans, on a walk this week, share your stories, discoveries, and pictures with us on our Facebook page!