Midland's Bark for Life honors canine caretakers from across the region – Midland Daily News

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Jewel, a 1-year-old standard poodle, won the Mardi Gras costume contest at Bark for Life of Midland County on Sept. 17, 2022.
Midland County Pit Stop brought along four puppies that were up for adoption to Bark for Life of Midland County on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.
Midland County Pit Stop brought along four puppies that were up for adoption to Bark for Life of Midland County on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.
Animals of all ages and breeds – some dressed up – attended Bark for Life of Midland County on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.
Animals of all ages and breeds attended Bark for Life of Midland County on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.
Officer Josh Thielen and his K-9 partner Leo attended Bark for Life of Midland County on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.
Animals of all ages and breeds attended Bark for Life of Midland County on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.
Midland County Pit Stop brought along four puppies that were up for adoption to Bark for Life of Midland County on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.
Area residents gathered on Sept. 17, 2022 at Midland’s Central Park to support Bark for Life, a Relay for Life fundraiser, 
Animals of all ages and breeds attended Bark for Life of Midland County on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.
Area residents gathered on Sept. 17, 2022 at Midland’s Central Park to support Bark for Life, a Relay for Life fundraiser, 
Animals of all ages and breeds attended Bark for Life of Midland County on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.
Area residents gathered on Sept. 17, 2022 at Midland’s Central Park to support Bark for Life, a Relay for Life fundraiser, 
Animals of all ages and breeds attended Bark for Life of Midland County on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.
Animals of all ages and breeds attended Bark for Life of Midland County on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.
Animals of all ages and breeds attended Bark for Life of Midland County on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.
Animals of all ages and breeds attended Bark for Life of Midland County on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.
Dogs of all sizes and breeds visited Midland’s Central Park on Saturday with their owners as Midland County Chapter of Relay for Life held its annual Bark for Life.
Bark for Life and Relay for Life benefit the American Cancer Society, which is committed to “attacking cancer from all angles,” said Jen Dockum, Bark for Life organizer.
“We’re funding research, trying to make people aware of when they need their (cancer) screenings,” Dockum said. “Coming out of COVID, people avoided their screenings. What we’re finding now is that what might have been Stage 1 cancer is now Stage 4.”
According to Dockum, the annual Bark for Life event has been around in Midland since 2013, held at different parks around the city. She explained that since dogs are not allowed at the Relay for Life walk for life event due to health concerns, the Midland chapter wanted to honor the positive impact that dogs have in people’s lives.
“Some cancer patients go to their treatments, come home, get in bed, their dog lies down next to them and that dog is their caregiver,” Dockum said. “That dog is giving them the love that they need, the care that they need to make it through.”
The event featured vendors, Relay for Life team tents, a silent auction and raffle with proceeds going back to the American Cancer Society. According to Dockum, this year’s overall goal for Relay for Life in Midland County was $100,000. She said proceeds currently amount to around $85,000 and typically Bark for Life raises about $6,000.
One of the most popular stations was the Midland County Pit Stop where four hound-bully mix puppies – Auburn, Lee, Bay and Rhodes – were up for adoption. Two more puppies – Clare and Sanford – were adopted earlier this week. All the puppies were given local names as they were originally surrendered from a Midland County home, said Gwen Drake, founder of Midland County Pit Stop.
“We’re very appreciative when people reach out to us,” Drake said. “Asking for help is always huge.”
Midland County Pit Stop doesn’t conduct on-site adoptions at events. Instead, they ask people to fill out an application before they perform a background and vet check.
“If you don’t vet your pet, you don’t adopt from us,” Drake said.
Following a phone interview, a home visit may be scheduled for potential owners to meet their new pet. Cost to adopt are $350 for dogs eight weeks old to 2 years, $300 for 2- to 5-year-olds and $250 for dogs over five years old.
“We love events like this (Bark for Life),” Drake said. “We can get out and meet people and interact with them, hopefully grow our family.”
 Midland Police Officer Josh Thielen was present, accompanied by Leo, a German shepherd with the department’s K-9 unit. During Bark for Life, Thielen talked to people about the K-9 unit and the work that he does. He also walked Leo around the park, training him to be obedient and calm in public, working with Leo’s sociable demeanor.
“He’s not dog aggressive, but dog excited. He sees dogs and is like, ‘Oh, friends!’” Thielen said. “In a perfect world, I want him to see all these dogs and do nothing.”
Leo is trained to be a patrol and narcotics dog. Thielen explained that the dog is trained to search for all drugs except marijuana, as it is legal in Michigan. Leo can also track missing people, help with building searches and retrieve articles.
Thielen was grateful to be invited to Bark for Life, as the presence of the K-9 unit at public events drives curiosity. He talked with several people, describing the work and training that goes into handling police dogs.
“We’re here to let people know that, especially in 2022, we’re humans,” Thielen said. “I’m just a human being in a uniform. We’re literally no different than any of you.”
Bark for Life kicked off with a parade of pets around the park and in front of King’s Daughters Home. Contests were held throughout the day for best costume, owner-dog look-alike, biggest dog, smallest dog, best trick and best kiss.
Angela Letts of Alma and owner of Studio 851 Pet Spa & Grooming LLC won the Mardi Gras-themed costume contest. She dressed her 1-year-old standard poodle named Jewel as a tiger along with a bandana and multi-colored tutu. This was the second year Letts participated in Bark for Life.
“Dogs are really popular so it’s important that they can represent a good cause,” Letts said.
Victoria Ritter grew up in Midland and after earning a degree in English at Grand Valley State University, returned. She joined the Daily News as its newsroom clerk, and eventually began editing obituaries, and in 2016 wrote her first article. She loves the arts, from reading and creative writing to catching a movie or singing in her church choir.

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