The annual fundraiser gives businesses and individuals the chance to sponsor stray pets, in exchange for a little good will during the holidays. Shelter employees dress dogs with signs that identify and thank the sponsors, then walk them up and down Main Street during the lunch hour. The sponsored dogs and cats are photographed while wearing the name of each sponsor, and the shelter puts the photos on its Facebook page. As a result, the drive is something of an advertising opportunity for local businesses.
“A lot of the businesses do it,” said kennel supervisor Jennifer Crouse. “And we also get a lot of individual people. We get people that their children would like to ... sponsor animals for Christmas, so the kids know that they’re getting to do something for the community.”
The event continues through Dec. 28.
Christmas is usually a slow season at the shelter, but Crouse said the shelter has been accepting new strays and pets nearly every day. Some sponsored pets have already been adopted, she said.
Money raised from past sponsorships has been used to buy a new transport vehicle and food and other supplies for the animals. Crouse said the community is always eager to get involved.
“It’s strange,” shelter employee Marsha Gard said. “For some reason, it’s never gotten slow this year.”