Mon Valley Paws to hold first Pet Memorial Mile

The event will take place this morning at the DiVirgilio Sports Complex in Rostraver Township.

Mon Valley Paws will hold a Pet Memorial Mile today in honor of those who have lost their beloved pets.

The first-time event was created to raise funds for Mon Valley Paws’ veterinary grant programs and grants to their partnered shelters and rescues.

“It just gives people a chance to get together with other people who have gone through the same kind of things that they have gone through,” said Walter Bennett, the chairperson and creator of the event. “This gets people to get out and see what we do, because three of our shelters are going to be there with adoptable pets. Some people might be willing to adopt the new pets.”

The walk officially begins at 8:30 a.m. at the DiVirgilio Sports Complex behind the Rostraver Township Municipal Building.

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and lasts till 8:20 a.m., and the fee to participate is $25.

The event will also include the Michael Shaffer Pet Memorial Bridge, which was created in collaboration with Michael’s Ovation. The charity was created by Michael Shaffer’s family to help causes that were important to him after he passed away in 2020, according to his mother, Heather Shaffer.

They’ve worked with Mon Valley Paws in the past because they knew how important animals were to Michael, and Heather said the Pet Memorial Mile has been a great project.

“We hope that we can do lots of different things with them,” she said. “And this just being like one of them, we’re excited to work with them. Michael loved animals, all kinds of different animals. So any organization that does as much for animals as Mon Valley Paws does, that really means something special to us because of him.”

People attending the event will be able to buy a collar to display on the bridge in memory of a pet.

Mary Earl of Mon Valley Paws helped paint the bridge in rainbow colors, including adding some paw prints.

“Usually, when you think of your pets passing, you think of the Rainbow Bridge,” Earl said. “You have that story about the Rainbow Bridge, about them crossing over. So we thought we’d give that a shot.

“Your pets become part of your family, and you want to mourn them and remember them just like you would a family member.”

Earl still remembers her first dog, Brutus, that she had for 15 years, and she still gets emotional about him.

Mon Valley Paws President Randy Marino thanked Pet Supplies Plus in Belle Vernon for the donation of the collars. Marino said they have been a great partner for Mon Valley Paws and their cause.

Mon Valley Paws Vice President Elmer Spiker said they’re hoping to continue the event in the upcoming years.

“This is our first one, it’s a little trial and error, but I believe it’s just going to get bigger and bigger, as people come and see what we have,” Spiker said.

As of Friday evening, they had 110 people registered for the event.

During the memorial, they plan to have a vigil for those who might have been involved with Patrick Vereb, owner of Vereb Funeral Home and Eternity Pet Memorial. Vereb is charged with improper disposal of thousands of dogs and cats for which owners paid for cremations, burials, returns of ashes, and other services.

Earl said she had two dogs cremated with Vereb’s Funeral Home, and although she isn’t sure yet, it’s very disheartening to think that they just tossed them aside.

“It’s hard because you thought you were giving them to be taken care of properly, and then to find out years later that they weren’t,” Earl said.

Earl said they will have a prayer for all the pets that might have been involved in the Vereb Funeral Home incident.