MARYSVILLE — Mayor Jon Nehring recognized Save-A-Mutt founders Jennifer Ward and Elizabeth Woche as Volunteers of the Month for their annual fundraising dog wash, supporting pet-based charities, that has grown from washing dogs to saving them.
“If you love dogs, these are two people in the community that you want to get to know,” Nehring said at a presentation during the Sept. 22 City Council meeting. “The two friends got involved in fundraising activities because they saw in a need in our community.”
Ward and Woche are co-directors of a nonprofit organization in Marysville, known for years by the name “Scrub-A-Mutt,” but they recently changed the name to “Save-A-Mutt” to reflect their broader mission on behalf of dogs.
Seven years ago, the duo started Scrub-A-Mutt, a fundraising dog wash that they have hosted each year in mid-August at the Strawberry Fields For Rover Off-Leash Dog Park. With help from family and friends, Scrub-A-Mutt has donated thousands of dollars in proceeds to a variety of dog-based charities, including Old Dog Haven.
The event draws thousands of pet owners and their dogs for a day at the spa, with a wash and scrub, nail-trimming, food, dozens of pet-related vendors, exhibitions, raffles and dog rescue organizations represented on site.
Ward, a graphic designer and entrepreneur with her own business, Pick of the Little Design, and Woche, a pet-sitter who owns and operates Wag-A-Muffins Pet Care Services, have become partners and volunteered their time and skills to local organizations such as the Everett Animal Shelter, the Animal Rescue Foundation and NOAH.
After hearing about Prison Break Puppies on television, Ward and Woche asked themselves what more they could do to help save dogs. They began to help organize other dog lovers, who have been transporting puppies from high-kill California shelters, mostly in and around Los Angeles. From the pullers who walk the cage-lined shelters, to the transport teams that drive them to Seattle to shelter partners for veterinarian care, they have been taking in some of these puppies to become “Hero Dogs,” with adoption fees going back into a special fund for rescuing more pups.
Ward and Woche’s goal is to place dogs in permanent, loving homes. You can find out more by visiting their website at www.save-a-mutt.org.
Ward has a Yellow Lab, Dexter, and a German Shepherd, Panzer. Woche also has two dogs, Lulu and Walter, and she fosters dogs for Old Dog Haven, in addition to sheltering kittens when called on.
Their next sponsored event is “Dogtoberfest,” Saturday, Oct. 18, at The Irishman Pub.
Ward has been involved in a variety of other local organizations, including the Marysville Parks Foundation Board as a charter member, the Marysville Historical Society and the Lake Stevens Animal Hospital, where she volunteers one day a week.
On the business side, Ward works closely with the Marysville Parks and Recreation Department, assisting with various graphic and marketing campaigns for city events, including the Sounds of Summer Concert Series, the Popcorn in the Park Movie Series, the Healthy Communities Challenge Day and Merrysville for the Holidays. She also designs and publishes the city’s Parks and Recreation Activities Guide.
