September 10, 2008

Annual Fall Furry Flurry raises money for homeless animals

By Janice Frazier
Special to the Times

Come with your furry friends Sunday, Oct. 19, to Los Gatos Creek County Park in Campbell for the sixth annual Fall Furry Flurry 5K all breed dog and cat walk [cats in strollers], to be held rain or shine.

The scenic Los Gatos Creek County Park in Campbell will be the location for the annual Fall Furry Flurry to benefit Santa Clara County’s homeless animals on Oct. 19.

The annual Fall Furry Flurry [FFF] fundraiser is sponsored by the Pet Awareness and Welfare Society [PAWS] for San Jose Animal Care and Services [SJACS], and Bay Area Siberian Husky with over 10 other rescue groups participating, including Furry Friends—PATS, 13th St. Cats, C.A.R.E., Unconditional Love Animal Rescue, San Francisco Samoyed Rescue and Town Cats; even two bunny rescue groups are hopping in to the event as well.

All four of the local shelters SJACS, HSSV, SVACA, and SCCAS are participating this year, so there may be a chance to find a new 4-legged friend to add to the family. Among the sponsors are Pet Food Express, PetsMart, Science Diet, Starbucks and Noah’s Bagels so you know the doggie participant goodie bags—and the human snacks—are going to be good! The participant T-shirts are always very popular with a unique logo/drawing every year.

The event is a celebration of pet ownership with the groups having tables for information and education, and it’s also a cooperative fundraiser; all funds raised from this event go to the various rescue groups involved. Walk participants are encouraged to get pledges for the rescue group(s) of their choice. In addition, each group will have an item in the silent auction to help raise further funds. The silent auction items include: golf packages, 49ers tickets, Sharks tickets, cat trees, baskets of premium wines, gorgeous quilts, pet boarding, dog gift baskets, cat gift baskets, and lots more!

“This event attracts over 100 walkers and their pets annually,” said PAWS Treasurer Randee McQueen. “We are bringing together rescue groups to work more as a team for all of the animals in the county.  Last year one group brought in $1200; that goes a long way in helping homeless animals and the walk is a nice way to see the end of the fall season.”  

A canine at the Fall Furry Flurry bobbing for hot dogs as well as looking for a new home. Photos by Randee McQueen

Besides the walk, the pets can try their paws at the games and this year, in addition to bobbing for weenies, musical sits, and a pet costume contest, there will also be an “ask the behaviorist” session from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

“I enjoyed meeting other pet lovers and getting my dog out for a fun day in the park, and look forward to it again this year,” said PAWS member Dan Dawson. “It was really funny to watch the dogs bobbing for weenies, amazing how some of the dogs would practically jump in the tub to get the weenies and others were no way.”

If your pet isn’t microchipped, this is also an opportunity to have it done; microchipping will be available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Microchipping increases your chances of recovering your pet if they are lost, and provides proof of ownership in a disaster. For a $25 donation, your dog will be chipped and the chip registered.

The FFF event runs from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., sign-ins are from 9 a.m. to10:30 a.m., and walking the 5K can be any time between 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Contest and games run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Raffle drawing is at 12:30 [every participant gets one raffle ticket and you can buy more]. The great Silent Auction caps the day off at 1 p.m. Registration is $25 per person before Oct. 14 or $30 on the day of the event, with a Family Rate of $60 for up to 4 humans before Oct. 14.

For a flyer to enter and directions to the park, go to http://www.paws4sjacs.org/ or call (408) 599-3230, ext. 108. This year should be the best ever—come on out and join the fun!