'Play Fur Paws' combines love of sports, animals

Four-legged sports lovers can join their two-legged companions Sunday during Hendrix College's "Play Fur Paws" fall lacrosse tournament.

Held at the school's Wellness and Athletic Complex, the event is a combination of an off-season tournament for the men's lacrosse team, as well as an opportunity to raise money for Friends of the Conway Animal Shelter.

The tournament begins at 1 p.m.

Jeremy Lichtig, the head lacrosse coach, said the idea sprung from both the women's golf and men's lacrosse teams.

"I've gotten my dogs through animal shelters; the women's golf coach has done the same," he said.

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Lichtig said the tournament will revolve around shortened lacrosse matches between Hendrix, the University of Arkansas, Harding University and the University of Mississippi.

There is no cost to watch the matches, but donations are welcomed.

"All proceeds go to the shelter," Lichtig said, and said food would be available from Lindsey's Barbecue.

Jennifer McCracken, the women's golf coach, said her team is excited about the opportunity to help the shelter.

"They love dogs," she said, adding that she has a black Labrador from the shelter. "When I told them what we were supporting this year, they were pumped."

She plans on giving golf lessons Sunday.

"The girls are going to be helping with the dog park and selling T-shirts," McCracken said.

Mark Scott, the director of media relations, said that while lacrosse is typically a spring sport, NCAA regulations allow for a fall tournament so that athletes can stay in shape.

"They decided to make it into an event. A lot of them (the athletes) are animal lovers, and a lot of them have dogs," he said.

Lichtig said this is the second year for the lacrosse team to host an off-season tournament. Last year, they raised money for overseas troops.

"Hendrix College has a long history of doing a lot of service projects so we're encouraged to go out and do something," he said. "They're all pretty excited to be able to help out with animals."

The event began small, he said, as they just planned on selling special T-shirts to go for the organization, which provides funds for various veterinary costs, such as spaying and neutering. However, plans cropped up quickly, such as hosting a dog park and creating an adoption center for the shelter dogs.

"We contacted them (the Animal Shelter), just seeing if they would be interested in doing something with us," he said. "It gradually took steps. We just decided it doesn't hurt to ask if we can get the adoption van out there and get people able to have animals out and socializing with each other."

Shona Osborne, the Animal Welfare Unit manager, said she and other animal officers will take their adoption trailer to the complex. The animals will be spayed and neutered dogs and cats.

"There will be several terriers, and some cats as well," though she said the exact breeds will vary. "It's going to depend on what we have available."

Lichtig said the dog park would be a draw for Conway dog owners, as the nearest one is in Little Rock.

"There's not really a place in Conway to bring your dogs out to," he said.

Osborne said she hopes many come to see the animals available for adoption, adding that there are more than "mixed" breeds there on Sunday.

"You would be surprised at the animals we get that are either owner-surrenders ... or the animals we pick up that do not get reclaimed. Any kind of breed you can just about imagine we've just about had at the shelter, and that goes for any shelter," Osborne said.

"While you might be looking at a particular breed, it might be a good idea to take a look" at the shelter first, she advised.

Scott said an added benefit of the tournament was to introduce people to the sport of lacrosse. "People can come and see the animals and experience an event that's new to Conway."

One player, J.D. Recobs, was glad to both spread the word about lacrosse and help the animal shelter, as he has a dog back at his home in New Jersey.

"This is just another way of the many ways the coach is trying to reach the community, that looks great on behalf of Hendrix and the lacrosse team," he said. "Sometimes I think people think Hendrix has its own little bubble but we're really trying to help the community ... and expand the great game of lacrosse."

(Staff writer Jerrica Ryan can be reached by e-mail at jerrica.ryan@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1266. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit.)