'Bark In The Park' Shifted To The Web, Amid Canine Flu Concerns
(CBS) -- The Chicago Anti-Cruelty Society says its annual "Bark-in-the-Park" fundraiser is canceled next month because of concern about canine influenza.
The organization is shifting the event online, WBBM's Mike Krauser reports.
Robyn Barbiers, president of the organization, says with the highly contagious dog flu going around, now is not the time to have dogs mingling at Montrose Harbor. The event had been scheduled for May 3.
"As (canine flu) continued to spread we started to think about our event," Barbiers says. "We looked at all other options. Should we hold the event without dogs? Should we hold the event on a different day? None of those were really feasible. So, we turned it into a virtual walk."
The fundraising goal for this year's event is $185,000. For more information, go to ibarkinthepark.org.
Chicago-area veterinarians have said the recent outbreak of canine flu has been aggressive – and, in at least a handful of cases, fatal.