AMHERST, N.S. – A local pet store and boarding house will hold an agility fun match for charity on Saturday, Jan. 20, and are still deciding which community charity to donate the proceeds to.
Last year’s event at Park Your Paws raised an impressive $817.50, which was donated to the L.A. Animal Shelter, and the shelter continues to be a cause that the business supports. In fact, Park Your Paws recently raised about $1,500 for the shelter after a break-in and theft there.
“We do a lot for the shelter, but we want to expand what we do in the community,” said Carrie Rhindress, who owns the operation with her mother Kathy. “We’re dog and cat people, so for us to go outside the shelter, we have no idea what’s available in the community for charities and people looking for sponsorship or money.”
Open to anyone who does agility work with their dogs, the fun match sees dogs complete obstacle courses set up in the sheltered (but not heated) domed area at the back of the Park Your Paws facility. The public is also welcome to come in without their dogs as spectators. The day also normally includes a bake sale and prizes.
Everyone involved with putting on the event does so as a volunteer, and all proceeds go to the selected charity.
Park Your Paws will hold other agility matches every month until June, as well as a pet expo in May, with funds raised from bake sales going to other local charities than the one selected for the January event.
It’s a way to remind people they are there, according to Rhindress.
“We’ve been here for a year and a half and, unless you’re dog people, no one really knows what we contribute to the community,” she said. “Last year, we donated $5-6,000 to the animal shelter from stuff we did here, so we kind of want to broaden our horizons.”
Those who would like to nominate an organization to receive support from the January event can email Rhindress at [email protected]. Include the name of your charity, and an explanation of what you would use the money for.
