Forever Friend Pet Expo Saturday at Grace Community Center
Grace Community Center, at 4151 Hancock Bridge Parkway in North Fort Myers, will host the third-annual Forever Friend Pet Expo on Saturday, Feb. 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to benefit the center’s ministries and especially its pet-related programs.
There will be pet contests, vendors, games, demonstrations, food, pet rescues and adoptions, a silent auction, numerous raffles and more.
Carol Musselman, public relations person at the center, said the event will go a long way toward helping Feed the Pack, which helps families feed their animals when they aren’t able to do so, and for PAWS (Pets are Working Saints) and the nearly 200 animals that go into nursing homes to provide companionship to the elderly.
“There are also a lot of animals that need homes and we got together and decided it was a great fundraiser for the center and help bring awareness to all the pets that need homes,” Musselman said.
There will be a variety of pet vendors, including groomers and discount vaccinations so people can get their pets done on site.
There will also be activities for the kids, and seven different rescue shelters with animals on site up for adoption. Also, there will be the first Walk in Faith, a mini-walk to help bring awareness to the animals needing a home.
Forever Friend is a pet-friendly event, with all animals invited to come inside, provided they are on a leash or in a carrier, Musselman said.
Last year’s event raised about $2,500. Musselman hopes they raise between $5,000 and $6,000 this time around with the additional auction items and a $1 donation (money or food) at the door.
The money will also go toward helping the more than 50 other ministries the center provides, especially the outreach on the third Saturday of the month, where the center provides food, free haircuts and other necessities, which includes giving families pet food, Musselman said.
“There are families who want to keep their pets. This event is all focused around families with pets,” Musselman said.
For more information, call Musselman at 574-7161 ext. 230.