Lauren Ash Encourages Pet Lovers to Step Up and Save Lives with Best Friends Animal Society's Virtual Strut Your Mutt Day on Oct. 24

Due to COVID-19, Best Friends Animal Society's annual Strut Your Mutt fundraising dog walk, like many events, has gone virtual. Strut Your Mutt Day will take place on Oct. 24, with participants walking in their own communities instead of designated event cities to raise funds for Best Friends or another animal welfare organization of their choice.  In 2019, Strut Your Mutt raised $2.7 million, with more than 10,000 people and 7,000 dogs participating. This year's fundraising goal is $2 million. 

Actress Lauren Ash is the 2020 spokesperson for Strut Your Mutt Day. A devoted dog and cat "mom" and pet adoption advocate, Ash is best known for her portrayal of the hilariously blunt Dina on NBC's "Superstore" and her podcast about oversharing "Giving it Up for Less." 

In real life, Ash is equally outspoken about the causes she is passionate about, including animal welfare.  She has participated in Strut Your Mutt for years and was twice the top individual fundraiser for the event in Los Angeles.  

"I am so honored to be asked to be the spokesperson for Strut Your Mutt this year because I am so passionate about the work Best Friends does. I deeply believe that together we CAN and MUST make America no-kill by 2025 and I am excited that I can play a part in helping make that happen," Ash said.  

Going virtual this year just means more animal lovers can take part in Strut Your Mutt, according to Ash. 

"I am super excited to connect with like-minded animal lovers from all over the country and even the world. Isn't it exciting to think that together, we can save lives?" she said. "Often I feel powerless when I hear stories about animals in shelters across the country whose lives are taken simply because they have no safe place to call home but raising funds through Strut Your Mutt helps people help these pets." 

Walkers can register at www.strutyourmutt.org as individuals or members of a team. The website provides innovative, interactive fundraising tools for walkers to share on social media and raise funds for the animal welfare group of their choice.  

"For more than 20 years, Strut Your Mutt has been an incredibly successful fundraising event for hundreds of shelters, rescues, and other animal welfare organizations," said Holly Sizemore, chief mission officer, Best Friends Animal Society. "Now, with the pandemic, funds are needed more than ever to empower lifesaving work, so we're very grateful to Lauren for helping us promote Strut Your Mutt. We hope pet lovers everywhere will sign up to walk and raise funds." 

To learn more or to register for Strut Your Mutt, visit https://www.strutyourmutt.org.