- February 21, 2019
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Casselberry resident Alex Martinez hangs up photos of dogs he lost: Paris and Oynx. Photo by Paige Wilson
Ormond Beach resident Debbie Scudder with Faith, her rescued dog from Halifax Humane Society. Photo by Paige Wilson
Lydia Ferro, of Ponce Inlet, holds her friend's dog named Cassie. Photo by Paige Wilson
Saint looks at the memory wall of dogs that families lost. Photo by Paige Wilson
Ormond Beach resident Kira Sund with her dog Rory. Photo by Paige Wilson
As the sun set, guests put glow sticks around them and their dogs to stay lit. Photo by Paige Wilson
Ormond Beach resident Rachel Rodriguez holds her dog Kobe. Photo by Paige Wilson
Ormond Beach resident Debbie Scudder writes a note at the memory area. Scudder has six dogs, all rescues, at home. Photo by Paige Wilson
Orlando residents Astrid and Wesley Bal with their dog Rascoe, who they adopted from Sophie's Circle three weeks ago. Photo by Paige Wilson
New Smyrna Beach resident Dillon Lizak walks Lily over the bridge. Photo by Paige Wilson
Daytona Beach residents Vincent and Clayton Heintz remember Kush, their bulldog/pit mix. Photo by Paige Wilson
Ormond Beach resident Carolyn Courtney with her dog Stella. Photo by Paige Wilson
Port Orange resident Jill Colon holds her dog Kashmir. Photo by Paige Wilson
Guests start the trek across the Granada Bridge to honor the dogs they've lost. Photo by Paige Wilson
New Smyrna Beach residents Dillon Lizak and Jadah Shockley sport Corgi Dad and Mom shirts with their corgi Lily. Photo by Paige Wilson
After Debbie Scudder raised three children who left the nest, she knew she needed to fill her home with furry love.
The Ormond Beach resident attended the fourth-annual Rainbow Bridge Walk held by Sophie’s Circle, a local dog rescue nonprofit, on Sunday, Feb. 24.
As the sun set at Fortunato Park, Scudder walked around with Faith, one of her six rescue dogs.
“I love rescues because they need us,” she said.
Volunteers passed out glow sticks to about 200 guests and their four-legged friends before the group made the trek over the Granada Bridge to remember and honor dogs no longer with them.
Jennifer Popowich, a board member with Sophie’s Circle, said this is the first year the walk was held after sunset with glow sticks to emphasize the colorful rainbow bridges for dog heaven.
“We didn’t really want it to be something sad,” she said. “We wanted it to be something to celebrate them and remember their pets, and to bring awareness to rescues.”
Before the event, guests were able to submit for the memory wall photos of their dogs that have died. The wall was displayed at the event with lights and flowers underneath a rainbow balloon arch.
At her Palm Coast home, Popowich has three rescue dogs, one of which from Sophie’s Circle.
“One day I was at PetSmart, and there was a rescue group set up, and I ended up fostering a dog,” she said. “And then it just led to giving more and more.”
Money raised at the event will benefit Sophie’s Circle through vet bills, training, rescuing dogs and more.
