Charity Walk Raises Money for Service Dogs

A Sept. 21 charity walk organized by a West Des Moines teenager will raise money for people who need service dogs.

Dowling Catholic High School student Grace Rice is organizing the walk to raise money for Paws & Effect, a Des Moines organization that trains and places service dogs with clients, the Des Moines Register reports.

The walk, now in its third year, will take place on West Des Moines’ city-school campus trail at 4200 Mills Civic Parkway. The walk starts at 9 a.m., and dog owners are encouraged to bring their pooches with them for the walk. Registration is $25. Get a registration form here.

Rice is organizing the walk as part of the Paws for a Cause student group.

In its first two years, the walk has raised nearly $4,900. This year’s goal is $2,500. Training takes about 18 months and can cost up to $15,000 per dog.

Paws & Effects, recently named the 2013 Organization of Character at the Iowa Character Counts awards ceremony, provides about 20 Iowans a year with the service dogs. About 200 people a year request service dogs from the organization, which is funded almost entirely with monetary and in-kind donations.