Law firms strut their mutts, names

A handful of law firms made their way to the Indianapolis Humane Society’s annual Mutt Strut on Sunday, showing off some clever team names and getting some exercise with their pets.

Unofficial figures show that about 4,000 pet owners came to the 2008 event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including seven teams from Indianapolis law firms. Those firms were:

•Baker & Daniels – Baker’s Dozen

•Barnes & Thornburg – Barnes & Terrier

•Bingham McHale – Bingham Bulldogs

•Findling Garau Germano & Pennington – The Tails of Justice

•Ice Miller – Miller Time Mutts

•Lewis Wagner – Lewis Waggers

•Tabor Law Firm – Tabor “Paw” Firm

Partner Tammy Meyer with Lewis Wagner gathered with about six others throughout the day at the event and set up a table where they handed out blue Frisbees with the firm’s name. Her husband, Marion Superior Judge Gary Miller, attended the event with her.

Amy Larmore, a paralegal with Findling Garau Germano & Pennington, was one of a couple people from the firm who were able to make it to the event. She took her daughter and 3-year-old puggle, Mona.

This was the first year that Barnes & Thornburg participated in the event after hearing about it during a Humane Society fundraiser last fall, business law associate Joi Kamper said. Around 10 people from the firm attended at different times during the day, she said. The firm raised about $2,000, she said.

Associate Lauren Phyllis Buford in the litigation department, who also helped organize the corporate team, said one reason she wanted to help form the team came after she adopted a 5-year-old miniature pincher from the Humane Society in January. Her dog, Cinnamon, has three legs because of an auto accident that happened before Buford adopted her, she said.

“She didn’t walk the entire track and we carried her some of the way, but she had a great time,” Buford said. “We hope this is the start of something we can do every year, and it’s a good cause and something fun for the legal community to help with.”