Bazzil Leads The Way at 26th Annual Paws Walk

“The day after we brought him home, my grandfather died,” says Liz Simon.

This was the beginning of Liz and her husband, Simon’s relationship with their dog, Bazzil.

“And I hung up and phone and said, my grandfather just died,’ I said to the room,” Liz added. “And he walked over and laid his head on my lap.

Liz and Simon adopted Bazzil from Homeland Animal Shelter in 2010. They wanted to find a companion for Liz while Simon worked in the oilfields away from home.

“Sometimes I would be gone for 30 days straight — not working every day, but I would be  away from home for that long or even longer,” Simon said.

Bazzil was chosen to be the grand marshal for the 26th annual Paws Walk hosted by the shelter, and led nearly a hundred of pets throughout an hour–long walk.

“It’s so much fun to see everyone come out with their own pets. Everybody comes out to meet and greet their own animals here at the event,” Heather Klefstad of the shelter said.

Liz and Simon helped give Bazzil a home when he needed one most, and they say, Bazzil’s helped himself and his wife at home.

“He’s improved my life and made me open up to things that I y ordinarily wouldn’t of,” Simon said. “[He’s made me] more flexible and patient with everybody. I didn’t realize I was deficient in those areas.”

As of about 8:30 pm Tuesday, Klefstad said that more than $33,000 was raised from the event.

This does not include donations that were received in the mail, so this number will almost certainly rise.