COEUR d'ALENE - Dogs just want to be walked, no matter where.

That it's for a noble cause, with beautiful scenery to boot, well, that's just gravy for their owners.

For the first time since it began five years ago, AJ's Tails and Trails 5k hit the walking trail at Farragut State Park Sunday, with a new foundation raising money for pets and pet owners under the same pup's name.

"I'm looking around and I'm seeing around 50 people and I'm excited," said foundation and race creator Sydne Watson before the paws and owners started hoofing. "I'm getting a lot of good support."

The popular race used to take place in Coeur d'Alene at Woodland Middle School and raise money for the Kootenai Humane Society, but Sydne branched off to start her own nonprofit, the AJ Foundation, in March to up her fundraising cause. The foundation now raises money to benefit the elderly on fixed incomes who need help with animal medical care. The 501(c)(3) will also add other fundraising events besides the faithful dog walk, which will be hosted in the spring as well, to put fundraising in full gallop.

But unlike years past, dog walkers took in views of Lake Pend Oreille, with the trees and slope of Bernard Peak running to water's edge. That snapshot, with clouds peeling away as the morning sun broke through, wasn't lost on the dog owners.

"It's beautiful out here," said Anna Lombard, walking her brown labs with husband David. "We'll be sure to be back every year."

"It's the perfect place to do something like this," David said, as labs Bobby and Georgia led the way.

The event used to draw in 200 participants and raise $15,000 to $20,000. Sydne said she's optimistic that will be the case again, as word of the new beginning gets out. Fifty participants was good considering the new location, and that it used to be held in the spring. And AJ, who was plagued with many health problems and died in 2006 and is namesake for the walk and foundation, is still the driving force. That hasn't changed.

As more walks and events spring up from the foundation, AJ's name will come up more and more. That's could be tough for Sydne, AJ's old owner, who still misses her old friend, doubly so when his name and brown face are on fliers and event signs leading up to event day. But worth it, considering the cause.

"The last three days, I've been bawling and bawling and bawling," Sydne said. "And it's been almost six years."

Info: www.ajstailsandtrails.org