Dog Days of Summer at Souza

The first Dog Days of Summer at Souza Family Vineyard saw the largest gathering of pooches and their owners to date. The May 27 event was also co-hosted by Demi Kapler, who is hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, and Kern County Animal Services. Tehachapi is an ideal stop for Demi as her family lives in the area. Her mother joined her at the event at Souza and she will be visiting with her father at Walker Pass.

Demi left Utah in April with plans to hike the PCT and raise money for Best Friends Animal Society, a sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, and to also join with local shelters to host fund raising events on her way to the Canadian border. She began her trek at Campo, Calif. on April 17 and on reaching Tehachapi on May 24, set up her tent along with other hikers at Tehachapi Airport. The hot shower provided by the City was a pleasant surprise. She said that she carries a pack with a base weight of 17 pounds to which she adds food and water. Her maximum pack weight is 35 pounds. Demi expects to complete her journey in mid-September when she is due to begin graduate school in Arizona.

At fundraising events along the way, Demi is selling teeshirts and bandanas to benefit Best Friends Animal Society and donating doggie door prizes. It is her hope to be able to bring shelter pups on sections of the trail. Prior to Tehachapi, Demi teamed with ARF of Idyllwild in the San Bernardino mountains and traveled for a couple of days with an adoptable two year old Lab mix. She plans for another California event at Lake Tahoe. Demi's progress on the PCT can be followed on her fascinating blog http://www.rufftrails.wordpress.com.