It has been said that the way a community treats its most helpless citizens is a mark of character and its potential for progress.

Children, animals and the homeless are three such groups of residents that we must be attentive to in our care of the community. After all, if we ignore the needs of the vulnerable among us, it makes a shameful statement about our humanity and morals to potential businesses, residents and the outside world at large.

We’re thankful that Suffolk has a number of organizations and individuals dedicated to caring for these and other groups. Among them is the Suffolk Humane Society, an organization overflowing with passionate, dedicated volunteers who can constantly be seen around town raising money, helping homeless animals find families that will care for them and educating the public on the complexities of pet ownership.

Today, they will be doing all that and more at the third annual Mutt Strut. The event is the main fundraiser of the year for the group and also provides an opportunity to showcase adoptable animals and educate the public on proper care of pets, cruelty and neglect prevention and the importance of spaying and neutering.

For the Suffolk Humane Society, like any nonprofit organization, money is an important resource. Food, shelter, medical care and other various supplies for animals are not cheap, and neither are office space or an Internet presence. Once all the expenses are added together, the cost of helping protect the city’s animals would likely be prohibitive if it were not for the group’s fundraising efforts.

To collect money, the organization works throughout the year to acquire and retain members, sells crafts at various community events and solicits donations. However, the largest part of its budget comes from the Mutt Strut, which occurs today from 1 to 5 p.m. at Sleepy Hole Park, 1600 Sleepy Hole Road.

If you have a dog — or if you don’t — grab some cash and head on out to participate in the party. The situation we create for the animals in our community affects everyone.