Puppy love
<p>Tag, a boxer, checks out his surroundings during the Riding for Rover fundraiser for the Kootenai Humane Society at Peak Health and Fitness in Post Falls on Friday.</p>
<p>Jim Fulton, left, and Mary Kuipers, both of Post Falls, pedal during the Riding for Rover fundraiser on Friday.</p>
POST FALLS - Mary Kuipers pedaled in memory of Josie, her 83-pound basset hound.
Ryan Mallery, who has two golden retrievers, set out for 24 hours of exercise.
Jim Fulton said he was too busy to be a dog owner until he slowed down enough to get married and now he dearly loves the couple's dachshund Chopper and maltese Zeus.
And then there was Nick Maniscalco, an inspiring story who suffered a brain injury during a car wreck in 2008 who continues to use exercise in his comeback.
The four on Friday were among the early participants in the 24-hour Riding for Rover, a bike riding fundraiser for the Kootenai Humane Society at Peak Health and Fitness. About 400 people are participating in the event, which is expected to exceed last year's $5,200 fundraising total and ends today.
"It's for the pets (that need a home), so it's a good deal," said Kuipers, of Post Falls, shortly after she began pedaling. "If I get another pet, I'm going to adopt it."
She participated in memory of her basset hound, who tended to take up most of the couch.
"Josie let us live with her," Kuipers said with a smile.
Mallery, of Post Falls, said he was going to try for 24 straight hours of biking, mostly for the challenge.
"If I'm still here at midnight, I'll just have my wife bring in some supplies and a foam pad," he said.
Fulton, who helped start the 24-hour fundraising ride with Heath Wiltsie, Peak's Post Falls general manager, said he became attached to dogs through his wife, Kim.
"We're not just pedaling to lose weight because that's going to happen anyway," he said.
Maniscalco, 24, of Dalton Gardens, has been making a dramatic comeback from his injury. Dogs and exercise are therapeutic, he said.
"They asked me if I wanted to come ride, and I said, 'Heck, yeah. I'll be here,'" said Maniscalco, who owns a blue heeler named Bandit.
Peak has hosted a 24-hour bike ride fundraiser for the past five years, including the past two to benefit the KHS.
"This is a way to reach out to the community and tell them what we do," said Dori Peck, KHS executive director.
Riding for Rover events
The Kootenai Humane Society fundraiser continues today at Peak Health and Wellness in Post Falls with a dog show starting at 9 a.m. Anyone is welcome to bring their pooch and the cost is $10. The judges will be the event's bike riding participants and there will be prizes. The silent auction is open until 11 a.m.