HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – A dog and his owners are on an objective, raising awareness about no-kill animal shelters throughout the nation, and they’re doing it by getting on a Jet Ski.
Ollie, the “Do Good Dog,” a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and his owners Michael Kruer and Cammy Hummel reside in Florida, simply outside the Tampa location. Cammy says Ollie initially began riding the Jet Ski with Michael at about a years of age.
She says the 2 would utilize their time on the water to return.
“They would go around and clean up the mangroves and the beaches around the St. Pete area,” Hummel said.
She says that work then triggered another concept.
“I looked at him (Michael) and just said, ‘you know, I think we can do something bigger and better,’ ” Hummel said. “So, I looked at him and said you know what, you did this trip a few years ago, 41 to be exact so we’re like OK, let’s do it.”
She’s describing a journey Michael handled the Ohio River for charity, jet-skiing 500 miles from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati.
Now, he is making that journey once again. But this time, Ollie is along for the trip, sporting his shark fin life vest.
The 2 began on their journey Sunday. Michael says the majority of it his been smooth cruising. However, he says there have actually been a couple of bumps along the method in the form of wind and waves.
“Tuesday was brutal,” Kruer said. “The wind was blowing strong all day. And the barge waves just don’t dissipate. So it’s just bam, bam, bam, bam for four or five hours, standing the whole time and half a squat, so I think I am going to be able to skip leg day for the next month or two,” he said laughing.
Occasionally, they pick up a bite to consume and to rest. Cammy follows along in a car for those stops.
Thursday, their journeys brought them through Huntington. We overtook them at Schooner’s Restaurant along the river.
Ultimately, Cammy says their objective is to raise $5 million for no-kill animal shelters, get 10,000 animals embraced and hire 10,000 volunteers for shelters.
“The most important thing is that people donate directly to shelters and rescues because that is what Ollie is all about is helping animals,” Kruer said.
The hope is they will show up in Cincinnati on Friday afternoon.
Kruer and Hummel state they have strategies to do another journey next year, possibly this time a little closer to home.
If you are wishing to stay up to date with their journeys, or if you want to make a contribution to help raise money and get animals embraced, you can click this link.
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