A dog poses for a photo at a Tri-County Animal Rescue Center Easter event.
While spring officially started on Monday, several animal rescue groups’ spring fundraising events are in the works.
Precious Paws Animal Rescue
Precious Paws Animal Rescue’s spring craft fair starts things off this Saturday.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Rocky Grove fire hall, 29 Shuffstall St., Franklin.
The event will feature more than 50 vendors and crafters. There will be more than 50 raffle baskets and door prizes. Food and baked goods will be available for purchase.
“We have a Mountain Dew ‘Cake’ door prize, a dog and cat door prize basket, gift certificates donated from the community and each participating vendor will donate an item for the raffle,” said Theresa Weldon, Precious Paws president.
A pet photographer and some of the rescue’s adoptable pets will be attending the event.
There will be a rabies clinic for dogs and cats from noon until 4 p.m. during the event. Dr. Rainy Waites will be on hand for the clinic. Cats must be in a carrier and dogs must be on a non-retractable leash. The cost for a one-year rabies vaccine is $10. Microchipping will be available for $10, including a form to take to the county treasurer for a lifetime license. Microchip registration is not included.
Those who take a bag of dog or cat food, cat litter, a cleaning product or give a donation will receive a ticket for a chance to win a door prize. Those who take a shoe donation for the rescue’s shoe drive will also be entered to win a door prize.
Proceeds from the event benefit Precious Paws Animal Rescue, the Oscar Fund and the Spay and Neuter Your Pet program.
The rescue has held craft fairs in both the spring and fall.
“The craft fairs generally bring in about $3,500 with the majority (of the funds) coming from vendor fees and the raffle basket sales,” said Weldon.
She added that the funds will come in handy as the rescue’s Oscar Fund is almost depleted due to several recent animal cases and a decrease in donations since mid-November.
“The Oscar Fund is a huge drain on our resources because we never see any of that money again,” Weldon said.
“What it does provide for the community is a valuable resource that offers hope to animals and owners who have nowhere else to turn. Unfortunately, most of the Oscar Fund cases are in excess of $500 or more with no way to recoup any of the costs,” she added.
Dogs pose with the Easter Bunny at a Tri-County Animal Rescue Easter event.
Tri-County Animal Rescue
On Saturday, April 1, it will be time to hop on over to Tri-County Animal Rescue’s Hoppy Easter Event.
The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Tractor Supply in Clarion.
There will be an Easter egg hunt at 11 a.m. sponsored by the Clarion University Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society.
The Easter Bunny will be there for photos with children and/or furry pets. The cost is $5 for a CD of the pictures.
“Everyone always has a great time and the Easter Bunny is a lot of fun! It’s great to see the kids and pets dressed up for pictures,” the rescue said.
Although, the rescue was quick to remind owners that pets need to be leashed.
The rescue said that the most popular activities at the event are the photos with the Easter Bunny and the raffles.
“Our big raffle basket is a candy basket from Dan Smith’s Candies, Clarion, valued at $100. Tickets are $1 each but we are only selling 1,000 tickets,” the rescue added.
Tri-County will also hold a basket raffle and bake sale for humans and pets.
All proceeds benefit the dogs and cats at the rescue.
Approximately 100 people attend the annual spring event, according to Tri-County.
Its Easter, Christmas and International Homeless Animals Day events are the rescue’s biggest fundraising events. This is the sixth year for the Easter event.
Last year, the rescue raised almost $800 from the event.
The monies raised go toward veterinary prevention, medications, flea and tick care, food, rent and utilities.
“We are a non-profit, no-kill rescue and every penny is used to help our residents,” the rescue center said.
Clarion PUPS
Those who missed the Easter Bunny will have the chance to see him again at Clarion PUPS’ Easter Extravaganza Saturday, April 8.
The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Park Inn by Radisson, 45 Holiday Inn Road, Clarion.
It will feature vendors and crafters, a bake sale, a Chinese auction and more. Pictures with the Easter Bunny will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. A rabies clinic will be held from 2 to 4 p.m.
Lenore Smathers, PUPS president and founder, said the rescue has at least 30 vendors lined up with more on a waiting list.
She said the group tries to get “as many as we can fit in.”
Items range from popular home-based vendors, stained glass, hand-crafted collars and “a whole bunch of good stuff,” Smathers said.
She added that this year the event would include a dog show vendor who would be showcasing professional goods.
The vendors will be in the Tropical courtyard this year, she added. The dog show vendor will be set up in the gazebo area and the Easter Bunny will be located in the fire pit area.
“No, we’re not roasting the bunny,” Smathers said with a laugh.
Smathers said the rabies clinic will set up a back area separate from the vendor area. Dogs must be on a lease. Smathers said dog licenses would also be available for purchase.
If PUPS has any adoptable dogs available, they will be at the event, too.
Smathers also added that animal groups Clarion PAWS and Rusty Mutts would be attending the event too.
She said the event sees hundreds of folks turn out.
She added that the Easter and Christmas events are PUPS’ only fundraisers. The events have been held at the Park Inn by Radisson, formerly the Clarion Holiday Inn, for several years.
“The Radisson has been very supportive as a venue,” Smathers added.
Smathers said funds raised from the event would benefit the rescue and its dog park which the group has been actively fundraising for. The dog park is open and PUPS has its kennel and its building, she said.
It is raising money for a mower and a shed for the dog park.
“We are trying to make it a more public amenity,” Smathers said.
Venango County Humane Society
The Venango County Humane Society Online Auction is underway until Thursday, March 30.
Details are available on the humane society’s Facebook page.
Venango County Humane Society Online Auction rules
Items are under the topic of PHOTOS and the ALBUM “March ONLINE AUCTION Photos”
1. This auction benefits the Venango County Humane Society. All funds raised in this auction go directly to the shelter.
2. Bids are in increments of $1 with jump bids limited to $3 (unless otherwise noted on the item).
3. To bid: Just comment with your bid under the post for the item you want.
4. You can ADD YOUR FRIENDS by typing their names in the add members bar located on the right side of your screen.
5. Please private message our auction page should you have any questions or concerns. We are all volunteers and will get back with you as soon as possible. ****Comments should be auction-related only so we don’t go crazy!
6. We will notify you immediately after the auction is over to let you know that you have the winning bid and ASK YOU if you will be picking up your items or if you wish them mailed. All bids are final. If you bid on an item and do not arrange to pay and pick up the item(s), they will be offered to the next highest bidder.
7. PICK UP AND PAY INFO : All items are located at the Humane Society and may be picked up there AFTER we “invoice” you as to your total and let you know the dates & times for pick up. THIS WILL TAKE US AT LEAST THREE or FOUR ( 3 or 4 ) DAYS after the end of the auction to get the invoice to you via a message.
8. Payment may be made by cash, money order, check or Paypal. (Sorry, we are unable to accept cats or whiskers as payment). We will message additional directions with your invoice.
The humane society is open from noon to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. It is located at 286 S. Main St., Seneca. More information on the Venango County Humane Society is available by calling (814) 677-4040.
How uncanny
The DukeFest team posted Thursday on their Facebook page about the number of cans on the Duker Man’s porch.
“The next DukeFest can recycling project money will be used to purchase kitty food for the pet food bank that CART (County Animal Response Team) sponsors,” the post said.
“Dog food is often donated by stores and companies, but the kitties are not as fortunate to have donations. …. so, here we go … let’s see how quickly we can reach $75 to purchase cat food for our local folks who really need this assistance for their furkids,” the post continued.
Drop off locations are at 1218 Elk Street, Franklin, the side porch where Snoopy is, and the SNYP Clinic at 720 Atlantic Ave., Franklin, people may put them by the office door if no one is there.
Look out for wildlife
Skye’s Spirit Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Harrisville posted about wildlife baby season earlier this month on its Facebook page.
“Baby season will start here at our center any day now and we want to make sure that babies aren’t kidnapped from nests,” the center posted.
“I will make you return babies to nests if you just take them out thinking there abandoned. Please keep the number of your local wildlife rehab handy where you can call if you have truly injured or orphaned wild babies,” the post continued.
The center suggested people check brush piles before they burn; check areas before they rake or mow; check garden areas before they rototill, and check before they cut.
“Remember, wildlife needs home space too,” the center said.
The center has a GoFundMe page set up to help with the expected rush of spring animals at www.gofundme.com/skyeswildlife.
People may mail donations to Skye’s Spirit Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, 889 Farren Surrena Road. Harrisville, PA. 16038. They may also visit www.skyes-spirit.com for more information.
Food for the furriest
Clarion PAWS in Shippenville posted a plea for cat food earlier this month on its Facebook page.
“Help! We opened our last bags of cat and kitten chow today. If you see any good deals this weekend or are able to pick up a bag our residents would be extremely grateful,” the post said.
It was followed by a post that some food donations had been received.
However, hungry kitties will probably need some more food donations in the near future.
The rescue is also hosting a LuLaRoe Online Fundraiser from Tuesday to Thursday, March 28-30. Details are available on the Clarion PAWS Facebook page.
Clarion PAWS is located at 11348 Route 322, Shippenville, Clarion River Hill, between Scrap Happy and Clarion Electric.
The adoption center is open from 5 to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
The center is closed Fridays and Sundays. More information is available online at www.clarionpaws.org, the group’s Facebook page or by calling (814) 229-1231.
All About Animals is a weekly blog that appears on Venangoextra.com and Clarionextra.com. Interested persons or groups can submit information to bigdogs.thederrick@gmail.com. Readers may also submit photos or stories of their animals. More information about the blog is available by contacting Anna Applegate at (814) 677-8364.
