Nineteen New Puppies in Search for Homes to Oct. 10 Pawty
By Greg Ritchie
Messenger Reporter
CROCKETT — Nineteen puppies rescued from the street have joined about 10 already at the Crockett Animal Holding Facility. Jennifer Sparks hopes an October gathering will help some of them find adoptive families and others find temporary homes while they wait.
“We’re trying to look for fosters and adopters,” said Sparks, who works with People for the Ethical Treatment of Strays (PETS). “And we thought we’d make it fun while we’re getting the word out of who’s available.”
PETS has assisted this year with spay and neutering, medications, vaccinations, medical procedures for over 700 animals.
PETS will hold its Puppy Paws Adoption and Howl-O-Ween Pawty on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bear Hall in Crockett. Sparks said the date and hours have changed since an earlier flyer advertised the event for Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The puppies are at the center of the day’s activities, but the gathering also offers a chance for residents to learn what fostering involves. Sparks said PETS works closely with the Crockett Animal Holding Facility, helping dogs receive medical care and become ready for adoption. The Crockett nonprofit also provides free or low-cost spay and neuter services, vaccinations, medical procedures and food for animals in Houston County.
“We help facilitate adoptions for the shelter,” Sparks said. “And help get the dogs at the shelter medically ready to be adopted.”
For families ready to adopt, Sparks said the fee will be $15 per dog. The puppies will have received at least their first vaccination and been dewormed. They are not yet old enough to be spayed or neutered, but she said that care is included with adoption when they reach the appropriate age.
Families who are not ready to adopt can still give a puppy a place to stay. PETS covers the food, upcoming vaccinations and other needed care for foster puppies, Sparks said. Foster homes give the dogs time to become comfortable with people and prepare for life with a permanent family.
At Bear Hall, visitors will be able to spend time with shelter puppies during a puppy yoga session from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The session is for the shelter puppies only; residents should not bring their own dogs to participate in yoga. There is a small fee, and Sparks said a link to reserve a place is available on PETS’ Facebook post.
“The puppies are playing with you while you’re doing your yoga,” she said.
Residents can bring their pets for the costume contest at 1:30 p.m. Children may dress to match their pets, or the pets can wear costumes on their own. Sparks said prizes will be awarded to contest winners. Food and drink trucks, pumpkin painting and other activities for children, photo opportunities and raffles also are planned.
Sparks described the event as a small fundraiser for PETS. Donations are appreciated but are not required. The animals available for adoption at the event will be dogs, she said, despite the cat pictured on the earlier flyer.
For Sparks, the hope is that a family drawn in by the activities might also consider what it could mean to take one of the puppies home, whether for good or for a while.
“You just provide a place for them to land and be loved,” she said of fostering, “and we take care of the rest.”
Greg Ritchie can be reached at [email protected]
