MARYSVILLE — In spite of the morning’s dreary drizzle, an estimated 35 dogs were accompanied by about 50 dog owners and their supporters in taking to the track of Asbery Field for the fourth annual Marysville/Tulalip Bark For Life.

Event organizer Christine Ingram believes the wet weather impacted the turnout, but reported that it still raised approximately $3,000 for the American Cancer Society May 17.

Among the more well-represented groups was Team Daisy, whose walkers that Saturday included David Schifflett and his 2-year-old German Shepherd Crimson, and Diane Lian and her 5-year-old ShiChi Teddy.

“My mom died of ovarian cancer, and Daisy was her companion dog,” Lian said. “The first year of Bark For Life, she could actually see it from her window.

“People’s struggles with cancer affect their pets as much their human loved ones,” she added. “Daisy had three seizures before my mom died, but she hasn’t had any since.”

While Lian and Schifflett were out in the rain, Robin Dobbs and her Chihuahua/Miniature Pinscher rescue dog Cocoa kept dry under a tent, selling handmade blankets to raise funds for the ACS.

“I’ve lost so many friends and family members to cancer that events like this are nice just to be able to talk to survivors and their loved ones about the experience,” said Dobbs, who’s lost her grandmother, her step-grandfather, her great-aunt, three friends from school and her sister’s boyfriend to cancer.

Lian’s 90-year-old aunt, Genevieve Callis, made the blankets that Dobbs sold, and just after Lian said that Callis was unable to walk the track herself, Callis showed up in her walker, supported by friends and family.

Ingram extended her thanks not only to the day’s participants, but also to the community as a whole.

“Without them, events like this don’t happen,” Ingram said. “I started the Bark For Life in Marysville four years ago, and have worked with some amazing people.”

Those still hankering to support ACS while taking their pet pooches out for a stroll can stop by the Haller Middle School field on Saturday, May 31, for the Arlington Bark For Life. Registration starts at 10:30 a.m. for an 11 a.m. start. For more information, log onto www.RelayForLife.org/BarkArlingtonWa.

That same weekend, May 30 through June 1, the Marysville/Tulalip Relay For Life will be collecting for the ACS along State Avenue as part of its annual “Paint the Town Purple” event. For more information, log onto www.RelayForLife.org/MarysvilleWa.