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By Brad McEwen

ALBANY — The cuddly critters at the Lee County Animal Shelter got a nice boost this weekend as dozens of animal lovers and horse riders turned out for the Happy Trails for Wagging Tails trail ride at Albany’s Chehaw park.

Saturday’s trail ride, which also featured a silent auction, lunch from Mike’s Country Store, live music from Anne Cline, and a horse obstacle course, drew two dozen riders, all of whom were there to raise money for the animal shelter. The facility will use the donations to provide food and care for its animals.

The ride was conceived by avid horse riders and animal lovers Morgan Burnette, Chehaw’s director of community engagement, and Kayla Myers, whose father, Lee County interim County Co-Manager Mike Sistrunk, is over the shelter operations.

“I came up with the idea and wanted to mix something I really enjoy with something that I really love,” Myers said. “I’ve always been around the animal shelter because my dad runs it. I saw the compassion everyone there has for the animals and I wanted to help.”

Myers and Burnette hosted the first Happy Trails ride in May and, after raising $1,600 with that effort and finding homes for nine animals, decided to host a second one, which Sistrunk said was a huge success.

“I’m not sure what the money count is right now, but the participation was great,” Sistrunk said during the post-ride lunch. “We want to thank everybody that participated and volunteered.

“We had a good time, we had plenty to eat, we had a good ride and we had a good time.”

Burnette agreed, saying it was good to see so many people come out and enjoy the ride through one of Albany’s premier attractions while also supporting a worthy cause.

“I’m super excited about the crowd that came out,” said Burnette. “We always get a decent crowd, but it’s nice when we get a ton to come out and support us. It’s just really exciting to be in a community that supports one and other.”

Myers echoed that sentiment, adding that the reaction she got from those who participated leads her to believe there will be more trail rides to come.

“It’s been fantastic,” she said. “So far, we have had great feedback. Everybody loved it. They enjoyed seeing different parts of Chehaw that they’ve never seen. We’re definitely going to do it again. We’d like to make this a twice-a-year event.”

Myers added that the ride drew several people from the surrounding area looking for a good trail ride and even attracted a few riders who unexpectedly joined in after arriving in Albany following their evacuation of the East Coast because of Hurricane Matthew.

Kelli Childs, of Summerville, S.C., said she and her husband came to the area a few days ago to stay with her brother in Leesburg and saw a sign for the ride Friday while visiting Chehaw.

“We saw the flyer, and my brother rides horses, has horses, so my niece said, ‘Let’s go,’” said Childs. “We didn’t call anybody. We just showed up.”

Childs, who lived in Albany from 1973 to 1981 and graduated from Dougherty High School, said this weekend marked the first time she had been to Chehaw park in nearly 40 years. She said she was impressed with what she encountered.

“It’s the first time I’ve been to Chehaw since I graduated in ‘78,” Childs said. “There were very few facilities back then. The playground wasn’t here. They have done a fantastic job.”

A veteran of several trail rides, Childs said she was also impressed with the ride itself and the people who organized it and welcomed her family to the event.

“(There were) not as many horses as I’m accustomed to, but as far as the trails themselves, they were well-marked and well-maintained,” said Childs. “It was interesting going back behind some of the animal enclosures. And if we hadn’t missed one little marker, we wouldn’t have gotten lost. Well, we didn’t get lost, we just went the wrong way for a little bit.

“(The organizers) were awesome. And very friendly and inclusive. Made you feel right at home.”

As fun as the trail ride and the obstacle course were, however, helping the animal shelter was the main priority. It was also the reason other volunteers came to the event.

Dale Spicer, the president of the Circle K Club (which is an affiliate club of Kiwanis International) at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, said she and her fellow club members volunteered to make sure the shelter and its animals, was supported.

“I love horses personally and I’m really passionate about rescuing animals and helping shelters,” said Spicer. “So I thought it would be really cool to help this organization because they are helping animals.

“I didn’t get to ride, but we’ve had a lot of fun this morning, playing with the dogs and the cats.”

Although Sistrunk wasn’t able to provide any final figures, he said that he felt good about the day’s results, which included at least two more animals finding homes Saturday.

“It turned out great,” Sistrunk said. “We’re so thankful to everyone who came and supported us and all the help they provided is very appreciated. I’m tired but it was a great event.”

For more information about Happy Trails for Wagging Tails and future trail rides, visit the group’s Facebook page, Happy Trails for Wagging Tails.