Crunch Fitness to Host ‘Puppies and Pumps” to Benefit Old Dominion Humane Society, August 15
- Lenora Kruk - Mullanaphy
- Aug 3
- 3 min read
Updated: 17 hours ago
Crunch Fitness Fredericksburg will host “Puppies and Pumps” from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on August 15. Guests will have the chance to mingle with puppies from Old Dominion Humane Society (ODHS), get a great workout and benefit the no-kill, nonprofit organization that rescues dogs.
The event comes on the heels of the successful partnership between ODHS and Crunch Fitness, which hosted a ‘Pilates Pawty,’ where guests had a core-strengthening workout and a visit from rescue puppies at the ODHS facility on July 17. Another successful group fitness fundraiser, “Puppy Pilates” and “Puppy Yoga,” was held at Crunch Fitness on June 27.
During the Crunch Fitness special day of Pilates and Yoga, guests were able to interact with puppies and attend multiple themed group fitness classes that were designed to inspire donations and support for ODHS. General Manager Tom Davenport, Assistant General Manager Joey McDonnel, the front desk team, group fitness instructors and personal trainers were on hand to lead a funfilled day of fitness in an engaging environment that supports local rescue and adoption efforts. Anna Kate Merrell, a certified fitness professional at Crunch Fitness, organized the event at the Fredericksburg location and taught the “Puppy Pilates” class.
While visiting Crunch Fitness, guests may be greeted by a four-legged rescue dog named Reign, who’s its mascot. A love bug who adores affection and attention, Reign keeps an impeccable crate, has good potty manners and loves being active.
He’s a welcome visitor to Crunch Fitness and available for adoption. (The previous mascot, Onyx, who was accompanied by her foster on a weekly basis, found her forever home with a member of Crunch Fitness recently.) The business includes Reign on its social media posts and introduces him to guests, hoping to find him a caring family. Once he’s adopted, Crunch Fitness will name a new mascot dog from ODHS in the hopes of finding it, too, a home.
Davenport adopted a rescue from ODHS last year. Merrell and her husband began fostering ODHS rescue dogs in order to honor their late Shih Tzus. Through fostering, they adopted a Pomeranian, a Shih Tzu and a Mini Aussie from ODHS.
Merrell holds certifications in major national fitness organizations and specializes in Pilates, Barre and Spinning. She’s an Organization of Competition Bodies (OCB) professional bodybuilding athlete and judge. (The OCB is a premier, drug-free, natural bodybuilding and physique federation.) The “Puppy Pilates” classes she hosts are mat-based sessions focused on core work, toning and sculpting the body and provide strength-building and restorative experiences.
Get ready for “Puppies and Pumps” at Crunch Fitness from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Crunch Fitness Fredericksburg on August 15. Find a four-legged gym buddy that’s the perfect workout partner. To learn more about the event, visit www.olddominionhumanesociety.org/events. To sign up for the class, visit www.crunch.com/locations/fredericksburg (the sign up link is available 22 hours prior to event time). Crunch Fitness is located at 3101 Plank Road in Fredericksburg.
Old Dominion Humane Society provides well-matched, permanent homes for dogs in need through rescue, rehabilitation, and education.
ODHS is located at 3602 Lafayette Boulevard in Fredericksburg. Adoption events are Wednesdays from 5-7 p.m., Fridays from 6-8 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Adoption surveys submitted in advance are preferred and take priority over walk-ins. For more information about the dogs available for adoption and adoption surveys, as well as upcoming events, volunteering, fostering and donating, visit https://www.olddominionhumanesociety.org.
