Tribune file photo
More than 10,000 rubber ducks race down the Truckee River during last year’s Duck Race and Festival held by the Nevada Humane Society. The event is the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year and has brought in more than $120,000 in the past two years combined.
Tribune file photo
More than 10,000 rubber ducks race down the Truckee River during last year’s Duck Race and Festival held by the Nevada Humane Society. The event is the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year and has brought in more than $120,000 in the past two years combined.
In its inaugural year, the NHS brought in $60,000 by allowing the public to “adopt” the yellow ducks. The following year, the rubber quackers helped raise $77,000 for the NHS and they have set their goal this year at $100,000.
“The Duck Race is a little different (from other NHS fundraisers) because it is an all day affair and the ducks racing on the river is pretty unique and something you don’t see in most places,” said Kimberly Chandler, communications manager for the NHS. “You get a good feel for the community and this is a way that people can come together and share their thoughts and opinions, and really step out and help us and help the homeless pets in the county.”
In addition to spending a day at the river and watching 30-minute race, the festival portion of the event will feature live bands and hip-hop artists, carnival games for children and adults, a bounce house and several food and beverage vendors, including Gourmelt, Baskin Robbins and Silver Peak Brewery.
The money that is raised for the Duck Race and Festival will stay in the community and help benefit homeless pets being housed at the NHS. Chandler said the animals they care for are given basic needs until they are taken in by community citizens.
“We see more than 10,000 homeless pets come into the shelter in a year and that is a lot of care, supplies and time and the money will go to supporting their care,” she said. “We are continually trying different fundraisers to engage the community and to gain their support, so that we can continue our mission of creating and maintaining a no-kill county and an no-kill community.”
Chandler said the local community has played an important role in their success of caring for and finding homes for dogs and cats. Because the NHS operates on donations, she said the importance of the community and volunteers allows them to advance their goals further.
“We have a very generous community,” she said. “Since this community has become a no kill community in 2007, the community has stood up and gone above and beyond in supporting us. Whether it’s at the Duck Festival or the Walk For Animals, they’re great at standing up for us when we need help.”
Race participants will “adopt” their ducks in the weeks leading up to the race and the ducks and participants will be given a Lucky Duck number. The numbers will be filed and tracked through the NHS E-Quack system to identify their owners after the race.
The Nevada Humane Society Duck Race and Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 26 at Wingfield Park in Reno. The ducks will be dropped at 4 p.m. and the winners will be announced shortly after the race. Duck purchases are as follows:
Lone Duck (1) for $5, Quad Quack (4) for $20, Six Pack (6) for $30, Quacker’s Dozen (12+1 raffle entry) for $60, Beak Brigade (20+2 raffle entries) for $100 and Feathered Flotilla (50+5 raffle entries) for $250.
Duck adoption tables will be set up around the community at farmer’s markets, Hot August Nights and more throughout August. For more information about the Duck Race and how to adopt ducks, visit www.nevada humane society.org/duckrace.
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