Event Background
Joe Ray, a sophomore at Sabine High School, is undertaking a community service project this summer.
Joe is partnering with the Henderson Animal Center to bring what he hopes will become an annual community event: The Pro-Am Trainer Challenge. Participants will foster a dog beginning in July. Each dog will be fully vetted, spayed or neutered; and a long time shelter resident through no fault of their own. Fosters will work with their dog on basic obedience such as leash training, house training and basic commands.
In September 2023, participants will gather to compete for exciting prizes. There will be two categories represented; Professional trainers and Amateur trainers. The Pro-Am Trainer Challenge benefits Henderson Animal Center in many ways: by increasing adoptability of participating dogs, rapidly placing them in loving homes, and bringing publicity to the Center itself.
Joe Ray chose this project in the hopes to plant a seed in our community to find workable ways to solve the problem of dog overpopulation in and around Liberty City.