Walkin’ the Dog is Gigi’s annual fundraising walk and rescue celebration, held each fall in downtown Columbus. It’s a joyful, purpose-driven event where dog lovers come together to support shelter dogs and the programs that give them a better life.
Whether you’re walking, fundraising, honoring a beloved dog, or simply celebrating the love and loyalty of dogs everywhere — you’re helping improve the lives of shelter dogs™.
Gigi’s is a nonprofit working to improve the lives of shelter dogs by providing expert veterinary care, behavior support, adoption-readiness services, and continuity of care from shelter intake through placement. Our programs are designed to remove barriers, expand access to care, and strengthen outcomes for dogs from under-resourced shelters across Ohio and beyond.
Funds raised from Walkin’ the Dog directly support the Jess Sheehan Fund for Dogs, a memorial fund honoring a devoted dog lover whose legacy helps provide critical medical care for shelter dogs who need a second chance. This fund supports:
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Shelter-based veterinary care for dogs in need, provided through Gigi’s Rescue Veterinary Services
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Behavior assessments and support that help dogs recover, connect, and thrive
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Research and innovation that inform best practices and improve outcomes across the field
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Transport programs that move dogs from areas of limited opportunity to places where they’ll be adopted
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Puppy care partnerships that ensure continuity of care from intake through adoption
This event is for anyone who believes dogs deserve a better start — and a real shot at a new life. You don’t need to be a marathoner or a dog owner. Just bring your love for dogs and a willingness to take the first step.
You can register to:
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Walk – Join the celebration and enjoy a community stroll with fellow dog lovers
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Walk + Fundraise – Go a step further and help raise funds to save more lives
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Create a Team – Rally your friends, co-workers, or family for a shared cause
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Honor a Dog – Walk in memory or celebration of a dog who changed your life
Every dollar raised and every step taken helps change the story for dogs who need us most.
At Gigi’s, every dog who walks through our doors deserves a second chance — a chance made possible by the kindness and compassion of people like Jess Sheehan.
Jess was a true dog lover through and through. She believed every wagging tail, cold nose, and hopeful heart deserved a family to call their own. Whether she was snuggling a beloved pet, stopping to greet a stranger’s dog on the sidewalk, or supporting organizations that make life better for animals, Jess gave her love freely — and the animals felt it.
Last year, our community lost Jess far too soon. In the wake of this heartbreaking loss, her family and friends came together to honor her spirit in a way that reflects exactly who she was: a champion for dogs in need.
With a generous gift in Jess’s memory, Gigi’s is proud to establish The Jess Sheehan Fund for Dogs — a dedicated fund that will help give shelter dogs the medical care, safe spaces, and fresh starts they need to find loving homes, just like the ones Jess dreamed of for every dog she met.
This fund is more than a tribute — it’s a promise. It’s a promise to carry Jess’s love forward, one wagging tail at a time. Because of Jess and those who loved her, dogs who arrive at Gigi’s scared, sick, or simply out of time will find warmth, healing, and hope for a brighter future.
We’re honored to help continue Jess’s legacy. Together, we’ll make sure her love for dogs lives on — in every life saved, every adoption celebrated, and every dog who finds a place to belong.
Thank you to everyone who made this possible. May Jess’s passion for second chances inspire us all to keep opening doors for the dogs who need us most.
