HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — The Central PA Humane Society showcased shelter dogs to help them find new homes at their annual Paws in the Park event.
Each year, the shelter brings in nearly 1,500 animals through their doors. With growing costs due to food and medical needs, the organization wanted to host a fundraiser to continue its operations.
“It’s what keeps us afloat every year with all the expenses that we have,” Casey Brennan, the finance director at the Central PA Humane Society said.
Families had the chance to see all the attractions the event had to offer. Such events included a dog diving show, bounce houses, a bubble machine and a goat pen.
Volunteers walked around with a special assistant in a yellow harness and leash. Each duo had one goal in mind: getting adopted.
“We’ve been having really good luck with doing a thing called Puppy Palooza,” Brennan added. “People are able to come and apply for these dogs that we have here available at these events and actually take them home that day.”
These dogs show off many of their best qualities while walking around the park. A total of 20 dogs had the opportunity to be adopted this weekend to open up space for the shelter that has been overflowing with animals.
Getting these animals out of their kennels and into public spaces lights a spark inside of them.
“When they bring them out here, then you get to see their real personality,” Becky Felton, outreach director at Central PA Humane Society said. “How they relate to humans, love, affection when they get pet. It’s really a great day for them just to get out of the shelter.”
Many of these dogs have been in the shelter for over a year while others were recently dropped off. Some dogs can range from 8 weeks old to senior age.
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However, the dog that turned heads was Steven, one of a dozen poodles that was rescued from a hoarding situation in Duncansville. Steven was placed into a foster home to prepare him for adoption.
For the shelter, it has been a process to earn the trust of these poodles. This event was used as a test run to see how the dogs would handle a public outing.
“We have been trying to get them out of the shelter,” Felton added. “But coming out for a weekend like this really gets them in an environment that can feel safe and happy and want to be a dog.”
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The shelter has posted that all those poodles are now up for adoption. Getting them homes, along with the others in the shelter, will give the staff a bit more breathing room.
“It’s going to open up a ton of space at the shelter once we get these poodles into their forever homes,” Brennan said.
The event rolls into Sunday, with more dogs being available to be adopted.
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