Family fun for furry friends

The Humane Society of Moab Valley is inviting the community to enjoy music and a barbecue dinner at its largest fundraising event of the year.

Dawg Days of Summer will be held at Old City Park on Saturday, June 18, from 5 to 8 p.m.

The Blu Pig is donating its catering services to the event for the third year in a row, with backyard-style pulled barbecue pork and chicken dinners. Vegetarian fare will also be available if reserved in advance.

Dinner will be followed by dancing, accompanied with live music by the Williams Brothers Band, a fixture of western Colorado’s music scene who will be performing their mix of upbeat country and blues. Attendees will also be able to participate in family-friendly activities, like face painting and a “kissing booth,” and bid in a silent auction for prizes donated by local businesses.

“I encourage everyone in our community to come to the Annual Dawg Days of Summer,” HSMV Director Leigh Ryan said. “Bring a lawn chair, listen to the music, eat great food and relax under the Old City Park shade trees while supporting homeless pets and the Humane Society of Moab Valley.”

Now in its 14th year, Dawg Days generates a significant part of the Humane Society’s budget, she said. Celebrating 16 years of serving the Moab area, the local Humane Society, a no-kill organization since 2004, is run solely on donations and grants. Volunteers supply the vast majority of work for the group.

The organization’s mission is to improve the lives of companion animals and their owners by providing rescue and adoption services, training, support and education for pet owners and the community, and spay and neuter opportunities for all cats and dogs.

Some of the activities HSMV engages in include holding adoption days on most Saturdays, sponsoring spay and neuter clinics in Moab and Blanding, and providing year-round low-income spay and neuter vouchers through local veterinarian offices. It also administers a pet food bank for low-income pet owners, and offers discount fees for senior adopters and senior animals.

“Dawg Days is such a fun way to support responsible pet ownership,” HSMV board member Sarah Finocchio said. “You’re having a good time, hanging out with people you love and making animals’ lives better in the process – it’s a great way to spend a Saturday evening.”

In addition to The Blu Pig, sponsors include Zions Bank, the Moab Brewery and the Moab BARKery, Ryan said. The silent auction will include a wide variety of 100 donated items, from restaurant packages and spa dates to artwork and food.

“Donations from Moab community businesses make the Dawg Days successful,” Ryan said.

Advance tickets are available at the HSMV’s office, Moab City Animal Shelter, Moab BARKery, Back of Beyond Books, WabiSabi and Canyonlands Copy Center. Tickets for adults are $25 in advance, or $30 at door. Tickets for children are $10 in advance, or $15 at the door.

If you would like to learn more about Dawg Days of Summer, or you are interested in volunteering, donating or participating in HSMV programs, call 435-259-4862, or visit www.moabpets.org.

Dawg Days of Summer benefits Humane Society of Moab Valley

What: Dawg Days of Summer

When: Saturday, June 18, from 5 to 8 p.m.

Where: Old City Park, near the intersection of Murphy Lane and Old City Park Road

Cost: $25 in advance, or $30 at door for adults. $10 in advance, or $15 at the door for kids.

Dawg Days is such a fun way to support responsible pet ownership … You’re having a good time, hanging out with people you love and making animals’ lives better in the process – it’s a great way to spend a Saturday evening.

Author: Lara Gale

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