POLO – Dogs of all sizes and shapes twitched and panted during the 2002 Doggy Dash Saturday at Polo High School, raising $1,000 for a local animal shelter.

And the Wizard of Oz crew even made an appearance at the fundraiser hosted by members of the Polo High School Student Council.

“We had 80 attendees today,” said Gina Cole, PCHS teacher and student council adviser. “Our students really brought it all together today. We raised just over $1,000 for the Granny Rose Animal Shelter”

Granny Rose Animal Shelter is located just west of Dixon and serves Ogle, Lee and Whiteside counties. Saturday’s event included a 5k run, a 0.68 mile fun walk, an agility course and a costume contest.

And that’s where the Joines family shone when they and their canine partners arrived as some of the main characters in The Wizard of Oz.

Emily Joines, another PCHS teacher and co-organizer of the event, was Dorothy in “sparkly” red sneakers.

The Joines family won Best Ensemble at the Polo High School Student Council’s Doggy Dash costume contest with their Wizard of Oz-themed outfit. Pictured, left to right, Wicked Witch Paula Joines and Annie as Toto; Munchkin Amelia Manis; Scarecrow Beth Manus and Ginger as the Cowardly Lion; and Dorothy Emily Joines and Eden as Glenda the Good Witch. Emily is a high school teacher and one of the organizers of this year’s event. (Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media)

“I already had paint on these shoes when I was painting at home so I decided to paint them red and of course I had to add some glitter,” Emliy said.

Her dog Eden was dressed as Glinda the Good Witch and her mother, Paula, was the Wicked Witch of the West with her dog Annie as Toto. Another member of the Joines family, Beth Manus of Tuscola was the scarecrow with her dog Ginger wearing fur like the loose Lion. The cast was rounded out by Amelia Manus as Munchkin.

Polo Rehabilitation and Health Care Center resident Cecelia Cook holds Fletcher a Yorkie owned by Mark and Linda Downey of Grand Detour during Polo High School’s Doggy Dash on Saturday. Sept. 10 Participants and their owners walked past the center to visit the residents. (Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media)

“It’s just a lot of fun,” Emily said. “We wanted to make it a fun event and the kids made it happen.”

The participants walked one block south to the Polo Rehabilitation and Health Care Center where they were greeted by residents who enjoyed the licks of the canine participants.

One of the duos taking part in the walk was Polo’s Katelyn Rockwood and her three-legged dog, Willow.

“She broke her leg 5 years ago and had to have it amputated,” Katelyn said.

Student council member Teah Almasy said she and her classmates enjoyed hosting the event.

“It was super fun and the turnout today was amazing,” she said. “We helped Ms. Joines and Ms. Cole today by handing out bandanas.”

Ottawa’s Joe Lynch leads Ava through the weave of the obstacle course during the Polo High School Student Council Doggy Dash on Saturday. September 10. Joe and his wife Ashley, a former resident of Dixon, brought their German Shepherds Apollo and Ava to the event to help raise money for the Granny Rose animal shelter. (Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media)

Ottawa’s Joe and Ashley Lynch traveled to Polo with their German Shepherds Apollo and Ava to show their support for Granny Rose. “My wife is from Dixon and we’ve been to some of their other fundraisers,” Joe said.

“We would like to make this an annual event,” Joines said.

Gina Cole, student councilor at Polo High School, gives instructions to Doggy Dash participants on Saturday. September 10. (Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media)

Forreston’s Lucas Nelson and Polo’s Katelyn Rockwood walk their dogs Izzy and Willow at the Polo High School Student Council Doggy Dash on Saturday. September 10. Willow broke her leg five years ago and had to have it amputated. (Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media)

Polo’s Ted Alston leads his dog Walter through an obstacle at Polo High School’s Doggy Dash on Saturday, September 10. The event was a fundraiser for the Granny Rose Animal Shelter. (Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media)