In the brisk spring morning air, an estimated 1,000 animal lovers walked the Sparks Marina loop for the first Humane Society’s Walk for Animals on Saturday.

The Humane Society’s goal for the walk was to raise $100,000 to provide from the homeless animals in the community. With the estimated 1,000 people attending the event, Northern Nevada Humane Society Executive Director Bonney Brown was optimistic.

“We hope we’re going to meet our goal,” Brown said with excitement.

Brown explained that the Humane Society needs to money to help provide care for the homeless animals the shelter receives and that it all adds up.

“It is an average of $260 per dog or cat we take in,” Brown said. “In the course of a year we take in 8,000 animals.”

Brown, who worked with Best Friends in Utah for nine years prior to moving to Reno, explained that the Humane Society is a no-kill shelter.

“We are a no-kill shelter meaning one we take an animal in, we make a commitment to that animal to save their life and find them a home,” Brown said. “Our biggest goal is to become a no-kill community.”

Brown said that the Humane Society only euthanizes animals with grave health conditions or extreme behavior issues. She added that the Humane Society have been able to save 90 percent of the animals taken in.

To help with the Humane Society’s commitment to find a home for every animal taken in, for the month of June Brown has lowered adoption prices to $20 for cats and $30 for dogs. Between the lower costs and having adaptable animals at Saturday’s walk, Brown said the goal of the June drive is to adopt out 200 animals.

All adopted animals are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. The normal adoption fee is $50. Brown said she lowered the fee when she started working at the Humane Society because she understood that along with adoption comes the costs of buying toys, leashes, food and other necessities.

“Sometimes people think they cannot get the breeds they want (at the Humane Society),” Brown said. “We do get a lot of pure breed cats and dogs.”

Brown’s goal is to get homes for as many animals as possible and Saturday’s event helped spread that message.

“How we treat those that cannot help themselves says a lot about our society,” Brown said.

County Commisioner Kitty Jung joined Saturday’s activities and echoed Browns sentiment.

“We are number three in the country for homeless pet population,” Jung said. “Meaning if you are a homeless pet, you want to be here.”

Jung said that through Brown’s efforts, the community has been able to save more animals.

“There are so many homeless pets, I wish people would look for them first,” Jung said about pet adoption.

Jung explained that by adopting an animal at the Humane Society, it helps the county because the Humane Society receives funds from Washoe County.

In addition to the Humane Society’s adoption bus at the walk, various rescue groups from northern Nevada set up booths for pet adoptions and, in the case of Carson City’s Boxers and Buddies, dog kisses for $1.

Rene Anderson held tightly on to a chihuahua named Bandito as she talked about the dogs for adoption at the Boxer and Buddies booth.

The rescue group, which was started more than two years ago by Anderson’s daughter, Sarah, had already abopted one dog Saturday morning and their goal was for more.

“We adopted a record 36 dogs in April,” Rene explained. “Right now we have 21 puppies.”

But just because someone wants a dog doesn’t mean adoption is automatic. Rene explained that the rescue group does a house check and if she wouldn’t leave her own dogs there, the prospective new owners cannot adopt the dog.

In addition to rescue groups such as Paws For Love and Boxers and Buddies, trainers, treat companies, portrait studios and doggie daycares set up booths as well.

With all the love and admiration that was exchanged between people who brought their leashed dogs and the animal lovers in the crowd, hearts were melting for the animals.

For more information on the Humane Society, to give a donation or volunteer, visit www.nevadahumanesociety.org.