Yellow Pages
BURLINGTON — Slain Sheriff’s Deputy Anne Jackson has received the highest honors at a state and national level for the service and sacrifice she made trying to protect Skagit County on Sept. 2.
She’s had motorcades, military services, flowers and memorials. But her mother said Saturday’s walk, run and dedication of a new dog exercise pen at the Humane Society of Skagit Valley would have meant the most to her daughter.
“She would have loved this,” said Jackson’s mother, Peggy Bengry who drove from Oregon for the event. Bengry walked “Doc” a shelter basset hound and golden retriever mix for the event.
Jackson, a 40-year-old cheery Skagit County Sheriff’s Deputy who loved animals, was shot and killed Sept. 2 when she answered a call for help in an Alger neighborhood.
Isaac Zamora, 29, awaits trial for killing six people and injuring four others Sept. 2 during a shooting spree beginning in Alger and ending at the Sheriff’s Office in Mount Vernon with his arrest.
Almost 400 people gathered in her memory for the Anne Jackson Memorial Run and Walk. The event, which organizers plan to hold annually, takes the place of the Humane Society’s Doggone Walkathon fundraiser, which generally only brought about 60 walkers.
Runners and walkers wore shirts with “Heroes Live Forever” written on them, along with Anne Jackon’s union number 76.
Dogs toted green camouflage bandanas around their necks with Jackson’s number hand painted on them by friends of Jackson.
The 175 walkers raised $20,000 for the Humane Society. Two hundred people ran in the 5 kilometer and 10 kilometer races. The total amount of money the runners brought in had not yet been tallied Saturday afternoon.
Many of the runners said they thought of Jackson as they pushed to the finish line.
Organizers said they were surprised by the overwhelming turnout, which included Sheriff Rick Grimstead, Skagit County Prosecutor Rich Weyrich and dozens of officers from various agencies in the area.
“It was exceptional,” said the race director, Herb Oberg, of Conway. “It was way beyond what we expected.”
The Humane Society Director Sandy Nelson said the extra money is badly needed at the shelter because donations have slipped during the recession and more people are bringing in animals they can’t afford.
“This is a big boost,” Nelson said.
Money formerly donated in Jackson’s name was used to build a 7,700 square-foot pen where people interested in adopting a dog can play with those at the shelter in need of a family.
“You guys don’t even know what this means to us,” said Jackson’s Sgt. Annette Lindquist from the Sheriff’s Office.
Lindquist noted the upcoming anniversary of the shooting, and asked to say a prayer for Jackson and those who loved her.
“We’re going to need it,” Lindquist said.
After a brief dedication of the pen, the gate was opened for the first paw to step foot on the bright green grass.
Dogs ran and wrestled in the pen, which has a sign posted at the entrance with Jackson’s picture on it alongside the following words:
“This fenced exercise area is dedicated to the memory of deputy Anne Jackson whose love and respect for animals was demonstrated through her service to the Skagit County Community.”
As for “Doc,” the shelter dog walked by Jackson’s mother — he found a new family and home by the end of the day.
* Tahlia Ganser can be reached at 360-416-2148 or at .
