A decade of vet bills, second chances, and wagging tails. Friends of Manatee County Animal Welfare is celebrating ten years of fundraising with a Birthday Bash on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at Dog Bar Sarasota. The nonprofit covers the costs our shelters can’t, including heartworm treatments, specialized surgeries, beds, food, and toys. Expect raffles, a silent auction, food, and adoptable animals throughout the afternoon.
The event also shines a light on a tough reality: shelters across the country are sitting at crisis levels. The folks at Friends want people to know that adoption isn’t the only way to help. Fostering for a weekend or a week takes pressure off the system, and even one raffle ticket on Sunday makes a difference. As Rebecca St. Jean puts it, everybody can do something.
Planning to bring your dog? They need to be pre-registered with current parvo and rabies vaccinations. And there’s a nice bit of momentum here: Dog Bar owner Mark “Sharky” Coxson says 17 dogs have been adopted at his bar in just eight months. If you’re thinking about adding a four-legged friend to the family, Sunday might be your day.
Will you be heading to Dog Bar on Sunday, or is there another way you like to support local shelter animals? Let us know in the comments.
