Arthritis Walk is May 5

The Arthritis Foundation is calling for Wagger owners to take action against arthritis in our furry friends by participating in the 2007 Arthritis Walk.

The annual nationwide event kicks off in May during national Arthritis M o n t h , r a i s i n g funds and awareness to fight arthritis, the nation's leading cause of disability. The Pensacola Arthritis Walk will take place on Saturday, May 5 at HealthWorks, 2120 E. Johnson Ave. To get involved or form a walk team, visit www.arthritis.org, click on the Arthritis Walk Logo or call (850) 471-1541.

Arthritis affects one in every five adult dogs in the U.S. and is one of the most common sources of chronic pain that veterinarians treat. Spotting Arthritis in our furry friends is more widespread than imagined.

Symptoms include:

favoring a limb;

difficulty sitting or standing;

sleeping more;

seeming to have stiff or sore joints;

hesitancy to jump, run or climb stairs;

weight gain;

decreased activity or less interest in play;

attitude or behavior changes; and

being less alert.

The Arthritis Walk takes place in communities nationwide each May in conjunction with National Arthritis Month. There are more than 400 local Arthritis Walks, each featuring a three-mile and one-mile course. Participants can walk with their furry friend (leashes please), for a friend or a family member with arthritis, while people with arthritis wear blue hats to signify they are walking to take control of their arthritis.

For more information on arthritis, visit www.arthritis.org or call (850) 471-1541.
    Arthritis
  Walk 2007
Saturday, May 5
  Healthworks,
      2120 E.
  Johnson Ave.
    Pensacola