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The Romp and Stomp Pet Pals Fundraiser is annual event to raise money and awareness about spaying and neutering pets.
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com
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The Grand Lake Nordic Center allows pet-owners and their furry friends to ski or snowshoe a handful of trails, so long as they are under control of the owner.
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com
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While their humans got signed up inside, the dogs waited outside with some volunteer wranglers.
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com
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An owner puts protective booties on her golden retriever before heading out.
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com
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It didn’t take long for Sawyer, a golden retriever, to make friends out on the trail.
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com
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Despite the heavy snow, participants and their pups continued to arrive at Grand Lake Nordic Center well into the morning.
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com
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Participants could choose between Nordic skiing or snowshoeing for the Romp and Stomp.
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com
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Blitz the Alaskan husky eagerly waits for his humans to be ready to ski.
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com
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In honor of the event supporting Grand County Pet Pals, many participants brought their own rescues.
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com
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The Grand Lake Nordic Center offers 35 miles of groomed Nordic ski trails and two different snowshoe routes.
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com
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In recent memory, the Romp and Stomp experienced bluebird days, but this year, heavy snow fell all over Grand County the morning of the event.
McKenna Harford / mharford@skyhinews.com
Despite the almost whiteout conditions in Grand Lake on Sunday morning, locals and their four-legged friends gathered at the Grand Lake Nordic Center to enjoy the fresh powder and raise money for Grand County Pet Pals.
For this year’s annual Romp and Stomp Pet Pals Fundraiser, participants could get an all-day pass to ski or snowshoe for $10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.
Jeri Peirce, secretary of the Grand County Pet Pals Board, noted there were fewer participants this year compared to previous years, likely because of the weather.
Past events had been blessed with sunny skies, Peirce explained. However, even the heavy snow couldn’t stop about a dozen participants from signing up by 11 a.m.
According to Grand County Animal Shelter director Mary Ann Kerstiens, the event typically raises an average of $750, between the registration fees and the silent auction.
Romp and Stomp is focused on raising awareness about spaying and neutering pets, so the shelter uses the funds raised to spay and neuter all of the animals.
The funds also go to vaccines for shelter animals and the shelter’s good samaritan fund, for community members to use on pet emergencies.
Aside from raising money to support the shelter, Kerstiens added the event is a way to encourage locals to volunteer at the shelter and spend time with the furry companions waiting to be adopted.
For more information about volunteering or adoption, visit gcpetpals.org.