Officials with the Pembina Valley Humane Society (PVHS) managed to pull off one of the organizations biggest annual fund raisers this weekend.

After the 2020 Access Credit Union Steps 4 Pets Walk-a-Thon was postponed in June due to COVID-19 health restrictions, supporters were able to gather Saturday at the Morden Park. The event did look different than in years past however, as public health protocols required participants to remain 6 feet apart throughout the entire 3 km walk.

Holly Thorne, PVHS public relations chair, admitted organizers weren't quite sure how they were going to pull it off at first.

"But we were really proud of the support we received so far. It may be a small crowd here today, but the donations that we've received online have just been phenomenal...people still wanting to support the shelter in any way they can," she said.

Money raised from the walk pays for on-going vet care animals at the shelter receive including vaccinations, spays and neuters, and emergency surgeries.

As a matter of fact noted Thorne, PVHS received a dog last week that required a leg amputation.

"That was a costly surgery but we didn't think twice about it because the animal is important, but that's why we need events like the walk-a-thon so that this poor puppy would get the best shake at life," she explained.