Rawhide is telling everyone about Bark In The Park on Tuesday, August 23, which will be presented by Pets Lifeline. It was Pets Lifeline who helped Rawhide find a new home in Sonoma.
Julie Leitzel/@Move2Marin, Twitter
Two years have passed since the Sonoma Stompers’ beloved mascot, Rawhide, has joined the team and both parties could not be happier. For those who don’t remember, Rawhide did not always call Arnold Field his home. His roots trace back to the Cow Palace, where he was the mascot of the short-lived San Francisco Bulls hockey team, until the Pets Lifeline shelter rescued him in 2014. He was then moved from his temporary home to a permanent one with the Stompers before the 2014 season began. The two will partner up once again on Aug. 23 for the Sonoma Stompers Third-Annual Bark in the Park Night.
Since Rawhide’s arrival to Sonoma, the transition couldn’t have gone smoother. Rawhide can be spotted on the field or around the dugout at almost any point during the game having fun with fans, stirring up trouble with rival players, or even getting down to some ballpark tunes.
With his humble beginnings, Rawhide could not express more gratitude towards his new home, “After leaving the Bulls a little over two years ago, I was so nervous about my new home,” Rawhide said through a Bull-to-English interrupter. “The kind people at Pets Lifeline were contacted by the Stompers in the spring of 2014 and I have been so grateful to find such a nice community as the Stompers to call my ‘forever home.’”
Since his adoption, Rawhide has fit in perfectly with the team. Whether it be leading the Y-M-C-A dance or officiating a race around the bases, it’s nearly impossible to miss Rawhide’s role on the Stompers. Rawhide has been a huge hit with young and old fans alike, never leaving a fan’s high five hanging or turning down a photo opportunity.
“Rawhide has been a key member of our team for last couple of seasons,” general manager Theo Fightmaster said. “It’s hard to think of the Stompers without him coming to mind.”
Fightmaster and Pets Lifeline Executive Director, Nancy King, were key members in Rawhide’s adoption, watching him turn from a shy bull in the Pets Lifeline shelter to an integral member of the organization today.
Rawhide can be seen at many Stomper events around The Historic Sonoma Plaza, and elsewhere, going virtually everywhere the team does.
“I just want to do my part in helping the Stompers win as many games as they can this year,” the Bull said.
The Stompers have won the first half of this season, and look to win the league by either winning the second half, or the championship game to be played at the end of the season.
Look out for Rawhide at all the Stompers’ home games this season. He can be seen dancing around and having fun during the game, or leading the crowd as the rally leader between innings. So one things for sure, it isn’t a Stompers game without Rawhide!
ABOUT PETS LIFELINE
Before 1982 there were no local animal shelters or resources available to help the
Sonoma Community cope with the problem of stray and abandoned animals. This lack
of animal services motivated a handful of dedicated animal lovers to join together to
create a local animal welfare organization. Thanks to the support and dedication of this
unique community, the shelter property on Eighth Street East was purchased, and Pets
Lifeline was established.
During its first years of growth, animals were housed in makeshift quarters or placed in
temporary foster care. Our main effort was to find new homes for stray dogs and cats
(those not lucky enough to be reunited with their owners). Adoptions were scheduled
"by appointment only" because of limited resources.
The Shelter as we know it today was built and opened in 1987 to accommodate 12 dogs
and 20 to 30 cats. With the help of foster care volunteers we are able to help many
more animals than our licensed capacity allows. Visitors are encouraged to come to the
Shelter to see our dogs and to socialize with the cats and kittens in our two-community
cat’s rooms.
For more information, visit www.Petslifeline.org.