The recent Family, Fur & Fun Festival raised more than $5,800 to benefit animal shelters in Southern Nevada. The annual event was held at Exploration Park in the Mountain’s Edge Master Planned Community to educate the public about the importance of helping, fostering and adopting abandoned and neglected animals and proper care for pets.
The popular Halloween Pet Costume Contest, organized by the Las Vegas Hot-Diggity Dachshund Club and Rescue, attracted a variety of costumed pets and owners and found homes for several of the dogs up for adoption. The four costume contest winners were:
Best in Show: Mark Gagarin’s Chihuahua, Cheezits, dressed as a giant box of Cheezits crackers.
Best Costumed Family: Jennifer Lingle and her two dogs, Fred and Olivia, dressed as Elvis and a showgirl.
Funniest Costume: John and Kathy Baudoux’s dogs, Lucy and Benny, dressed as Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
Cutest Costume: Dana Provost’s Greyhound, Sancerre, dressed as a Greyhound Bus.
The free event featured educational, interactive and service booths and demonstrations, including hands-on activities for children to experience pets, pet adoption, arts and crafts, raffle with great prizes, and food and refreshments. Also, attendees enjoyed agility demonstrations from Smarty Paws Canine Coaching, and demonstrative matches with the USA Sevens Rugby Club.
The Family, Fur & Fun Festival was sponsored by The Law Office of Donna Stidham LLC, Mountain’s Edge Master Planned Community, Amica, At Your Service Pet Supplies & Grooming, NutriSource, Pictographics, USA Sevens Rugby and West Charleston Animal Hospital.