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C.A.R.E. + Outreach Events = Forever Homes
by Mary Beth Cammilleri
While the above is not your typical mathematical equation, our outreach events combined with our shelter activities results in finding forever
homes for our guests as evidenced by the fact that as the number of outreach events increases, so do the number of adoptions. Thanks to the
hard work and dedication of Linda Earles, our outreach coordinator, this spring was a particularly busy time for us. Not only did we participate
in a full weekend of activities at the Manatee Arts Festival and attend several adoption events at the Brandon PetSmart, all while planning our
annual PetFest gala to be held in April, we also were invited to attend the Sun City Center Dog Show on March 10th.
At these outreach events, CARE
representatives, both the two and four-legged kind, were on hand to provide information about the shelter and our mission, and most importantly to
tell people about our canine and feline guests who are looking for their forever homes. Unlike the other events, however, the SCC event held an added
bonus - we were treated to a dog show.
Not to be confused with your typical dog show with breed winners, ribbons at the SCC show were awarded in small,
medium and large categories as well as a costumed category. The audience also had the chance to be to be judges for the day as the People's Choice
trophy was presented to the winner selected from those dogs that were awarded ribbons for their categories. Also on hand were a variety of vendors
and exhibits as well as a professional pet photographer ready to catch our local doggy divas on film.
The show was truly a fun and exciting event for
all participants. Our CARE canine representatives, Happy and Spike, while not mathematical experts, hope that the above equation holds true for them,
and all the attention and "paw-blicity" generated at outreach events such as the SCC dog show help them as well as their other furry friends at CARE
find their forever homes.
If you would like to volunteer for our Outreach activities and events, please contact Miki Janosky, CARE Volunteer Coordinator at 813-645-2273.
Click on each to see a larger version.
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