With the holiday season upon us, Pets Come First is making sure to bring some joy to local animals and families.
The nonprofit, no-kill shelter in Centre Hall is hosting a pair of holiday events — one an opportunity to adopt without fees cats in need of a home and the other a fundraiser giving families a chance to have their pets’ pictures taken with Santa Paws.
The ‘Homes Fur the Holidays’ adoption event will take place Thursday, Nov. 29, through Sunday, Dec. 2, allowing residents to adopt a kitten or cat with normal adoption fees and medical costs waived during that time, thanks to a grant through the ASPCA, Subaru Loves Pets and Stocker Chevrolet-Subaru.
Pets Come First, 2451 General Potter Highway, relies on adoptions to make room for new animals, and last year’s two-day event saw about 50 cats adopted. This year’s event is expanded to four days in hopes of creating more room at the shelter to get homeless cats out of the cold this winter.
Normal adoption application approval is required to be eligible. Pre-approval is recommended to allow time for contacting references and processing applications.
All cats available for adoption have been spayed or neutered, tested for FIV and feline leukemia, updated on vaccinations and micro-chipped.
Adoptions will take place during regular open hours: 1-7 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; and 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
Pet photos with Santa Paws will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 8 and 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 9 at Pets Come First. The annual fundraiser, now in its third year, will support PCF’s mission of helping animals in need by providing them vet care, love, food and shelter until they find them their forever homes.
Volunteer Rodney Smith has transformed into Santa Paws each year for the fundraiser, which has been a hit since its inception in 2016.
‘With a bushy white beard, rosy cheeks and a full Santa suit, Rodney IS Santa,’ a PCF news release said.
Each animal that comes for photos will have a private session with Santa and Shawn Henfling of Captured Chaos Photography, who also is volunteering his time and professional expertise for this event.
Admission is a donation to PCF and all funds raised will go directly to support animal care. Pictures will be taken first come, first served, and no appointment is needed.
Participants will be asked to keep their animals warm in their cars until it is their turn with Santa, keep dogs on leashes and keep smaller animals in appropriate carriers. When it is their turn, they will be escorted by elves to meet Santa in a quiet, private room decked with a Christmas tree, presents and treats for their photo shoot.
Pets Come First houses an average of 100 animals in need of homes at any given time and this year is on track to reach over 500 adoptions. Since 2012, 3,130 animals have found their forever home through Pets Come First. The shelter also offers low-cost spay and neuter vouchers to the public and is on track to exceed 600 animals spayed/neutered through their program this year.
For more information, visit www.petscomefirst.net or call (814) 364-1725.
