Trick or doggy treat?
Alachua County Animal Services is hosting six Halloween events this month under the theme “Furry Tails Need Fairy Tale Endings.”
Dory Rosati, the shelter’s adoption coordinator, said Saturday’s kickoff event from 3 to 5 p.m. hopes to match prospective owners with their “Prince Charming” pup.
“An adopter gets to move along, looking at dogs in a speed-dating style,” she said. “It’s our way of showcasing our long-term residents that just get overlooked.”
On Tuesday, the shelter will celebrate the end of the Rachael Ray $100K Challenge, a summer-long adoption competition sponsored by the ASPCA.
“As of now, we’re at 1,448 lives saved,” Rosati said. “We think we’re in second place, but we’ll know officially where we stand and the final count Tuesday.”
The shelter will also have another adoption event Oct. 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. at EarthWise Pet Supply at 4106 NW 16th Blvd.
EarthWise owner Jeri Banta said his store partners with different shelters each month to host adoptions.
“Animal Services gets overrun sometimes with animals that they really need to try to find homes for,” he said. “The goal is always to make it a no-kill area in Alachua County.”
The last event of “Furry Tails Need Fairy Tale Endings” is a doggy trick or treat. Owners can stop by the agency on Halloween between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. with their costumed pets for a treat.
[A version of this story ran on page 5 on 10/3/2014]
