Participants dressed up in holiday style and posed for photos by the Broughton Street Christmas tree during Savannah's Dec. 18 Pack Walk event held by Renegade Paws Rescue.
- photo by Lauren Wolverton
A chilly downtown Savannah was buzzing with holiday cheer and four-legged friends sporting reindeer antlers, sparkling collars, and cozy sweaters for the city’s 2020 holiday-edition Pack Walk to highlight local foster dogs on Friday, Dec. 18.
Pack Walk was created by Renegade Paws Rescue founder Jen Taylor, and is intended to bring the community together and help socialize foster dogs. Current and former Renegade foster dogs, along with anyone who wants to participate, are welcome to join in on outdoor group dog walks held by the organization year round.
The holiday walk began at Forsyth Park’s fountain with boozy hot chocolate for adults and “puppuccinos” for their furry partners. A large group of mask- and ugly-sweater-wearing humans and dogs then made their way up Bull Street to the city’s Christmas tree on Broughton Street.
Organizer Cody Shelley says Pack Walk is a relaxed event and a great way to build a dog’s social skills. She also says it’s not uncommon for attendees to fall in love on a Pack Walk.
A foster dog is dressed up in holiday style for Savannah's Dec. 18 Pack Walk event held by Renegade Paws Rescue.
- photo by Lauren Wolverton
“Many of the foster dogs that come are up for adoption,” Shelley said. “We have meet-and-greets and adoptions at Pack Walk regularly.”
Participants don’t have to be dog owners to enjoy Pack Walk. In fact, they don’t even have to be from Savannah.
Chana Widawski was in town from New York City on Dec. 18 to encourage Georgians to vote in the state’s Jan. 5 U.S. Senate runoff election, before learning about Friday’s Pack Walk. Renegade organizers brought Banjo, a former foster dog, for Widawski to walk for the evening.
Widawski says she organizes community events back at home, so she was excited to join Pack Walk and support a local animal rescue.
“These are the types of events that are what the world needs,” Wisawski said. “We need to come together and make connections and share experiences.”
Participants dressed up in holiday style for Savannah's Dec. 18 Pack Walk event held by Renegade Paws Rescue.
- photo by Lauren Wolverton
Shelley was also thrilled to be downtown and enjoying the holiday spirit, something she says she’s been missing this year.
“This is a really beautiful, excellent-intentioned way to get together and enjoy the holidays and socialize a little bit,” Shelley said.
Renegade Paws Rescue is always looking for new foster families. Organizers also encourage pet owners to reach out about spay and neutering information.
To learn more, ask about fostering a dog, or donate to Renegade Paws Rescue, visit renegadepawsrescue.org or call 912-570-5032.
