Those looking to adopt a pet or to provide some financial help to an animal rescue group or pet adoption agency will have plenty of opportunities to do so during an upcoming adoption event in Oswego.
The event will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 13 at The Pets’ Home, 3587 Plainfield Road, Oswego. Last year’s event raised almost $1,000 for the six participating groups.
“This year, our goal is to top that,” said John Gay, who owns The Pets’ Home with his wife, Laura. The Pets’ Home is a dog daycare and boarding facility.
The 5,000-square-foot building, which was built from scratch, is designed like a three-bedroom house where dogs sleep in beds instead of cages.
This is the third year of the event. Since the event was held on May 4 last year, the event had a “Star Wars” theme.
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“May the 4th Be With You” is a pun on the phrase “May the Force Be With You.”
Last year’s event was on a bigger scale than the first year.
“We were excited to see not only dogs getting homes, but also that we were able to raise money for the groups,” Gay said.
This year’s event will have a luau theme. The couple is happy with the number of area businesses that have donated items so far for the event’s raffle baskets and silent auction.
They already are getting more donations for this year’s event than they did last year. Among the items that will be auctioned off is a 50-inch flat screen television set.
“A lot of the businesses that donated last year are donating again this year,” he said.
There still is an opportunity for local businesses, crafters, makers, service providers, food vendors and pet-related businesses to be part of the event.
Each vendor is asked to contribute by donating an item, creating a raffle basket or providing a product or service for the event’s auction. All proceeds help support the participating rescues and their lifesaving work.
More information is available by calling The Pets’ Home at 815-254-1166 or by email at thepetshome@gmail.com.
The event also will feature music provided by a DJ who donates his time.
“The owner of Howard Productions donates his time to rescue/adoption events,” Gay said.
Pets and their owners are urged to come to the event dressed in Hawaiian outfits.
“I’ve got 150 Hawaiian leis to give out,” Laura Gay said. “The first 150 people at the event get a lei for free.”
The Pets’ Home also will hold an open house during the event so people can find out more about what the facility has to offer.
“If someone wants to come in and take a tour of the facility, they can,” John Gay said.
