The inaugural Hounds for Healing Dog Walk on Saturday raised more than $20,000 for the Center for Human-Animal Interaction at Virginia Commonwealth University, according to Sandra Barker, the center director and dog walk co-chair.
The benefit attracted about 500 people to Richmond's Monroe Park, Barker said. There were nearly 250 registered walkers for the 1-kilometer walk.
Other events included face painting, dog-bowl decorating, a silent auction and a mock search and rescue demonstration. Richmond's police K-9 unit also staged a demonstration drug search on volunteers who agreed to hide drugs in their clothes.
The Center for Human-Animal Interaction studies the relationship between humans and animals, and research shows that therapy dogs provide significant benefits to patients, helping to reduce their stress.
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