Eight boats, 160 paddlers to compete in dragon boat races on August 3rd

Those are some fast dragons on the race – eight boats, each powered by 20 rowers will return three Saturdays from now, on Aug. 3. Courtesy Photos HSWC

Dragon boat races return to the Shenandoah River on Saturday, August 3, and are expected to raise at least $16,000 in entry fees for Front Royal’s animal shelter.

The event is one of the Humane Society of Warren County’s (HSWC) most popular. Crowds of several hundred are expected at the Front Royal Golf Club boat landing site starting at 9:30 a.m. Trolley transportation is provided from Crooked Run Plaza.

While the event was missing from last year’s calendar, eight boats with 20 paddlers sponsored by community and corporate organizations will compete in this year’s contest over the 200-meter course. One of the boats is skippered by Ellen Aders a former winner. Aders is the HSWC president. Newcomers to the contest this year are the Rotary River Dogs, Captain Julie Covert, Aders’ vice president.

“We are all looking forward to an amazing day, full of spirited fun, all in the name of helping the animals in our community,” said Meghan Bowers, in her first year as executive director of the Humane Society’s Julia Wagner Animal Shelter.

And it’s for a GREAT cause – like housing Otto. Otto has lived his entire life in a kennel. Since taking her position in the last year, Shelter Director Bowers has taken Otto, who is fearful of people, into her office where he has a comfortable bed and the things he likes best to eat: cheeseburgers!

Bowers said of her first six months that one of her most difficult things to deal with has been the sad condition of many of the animals that arrive at the shelter.

“It is a regular occurrence,” she wrote in the shelter’s summer newsletter advertising the Waggin’ for Dragon event, “to have a dog or cat arrive who has suffered years of neglect, abuse and lack of proper medical care. It is our mission (funded by the likes of Waggin’ for Dragons and other events such as Barks & Bags) to provide these animals a new beginning, starting with compassionate care.”

She announced that a recent yard sale at the shelter site had raised a record $3,400 for the animals. She also announced a fee increase for adoptions – in future, cat adoptions with be $30 and dog adoptions $60. “Even at the new rates,” Bowers said, “it may surprise some that adoption fees do not cover the total costs of caring for the animals until they are adopted.”

Among the shelter’s greatest needs at the moment is an industrial washing machine. Is there anyone out there with one lying around their basement? – Just asking…

The last winners – the State Farm Dragons

And the races get exciting as they bear down on the finish line – don’t miss this year’s Waggin’ for Dragons Humane Society of Warren County fundraising event, it’s a great day on the river and a great day for the county’s abandoned animals.