Photo by Josh Souza.

New Bedford Pet Fest and Walk for Animals set for Sunday, May 5th

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Prepare to party like it’s 1999 – The Coalition for Animals of Greater New Bedford is celebrating the 20th anniversary of our popular Pet Fest and Walk for Animals and everyone is invited!

This event has grown in popularity and celebrates its 20th anniversary this year of fundraising to help injured, sick, homeless, abandoned, and neglected animals in our community.

The 20th Annual Pet Fest and Walk for Animals will take place Sunday, May 5th, at Buttonwood Park (next to Lawler Library, 745 Rockdale Ave) in New Bedford from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., rain or shine. It’s a fun-filled day for people and their companion animals to come and join us for a 2-mile fundraising walk around beautiful Buttonwood Park, as well as see lots of entertainment! Animal lovers without dogs are also welcome to participate!

We need your help to raise funds to support the Coalition’s animal welfare and educational programs.
There is a $15 registration fee to participate in the walk, but please help us raise as much as you can by asking friends, family, coworkers and neighbors to sponsor you for the Walk for Animals. Check to see if your employer has a Gift Matching Program. We have great prizes for kids raising the most amount over $200 and adults raising the most amount over $500!

Last year, the event was attended by approximately 800 people and 300 dogs! This year we are expecting over 60 vendor and information booths, including rescue groups, shelters, face painting, raffle items, and other fun activities. Come to the Puppy Kissing Booth and get a smooch for $1! Get a pet ID tag at Mellisa’s Pet Depot booth. Check out the Raffle tables with all the awesome raffle baskets and items. Center ring demonstrations will be offered by Buttonwood Park Zoo, New England Reptile and Raptors, the New Bedford K-9 Police Unit and Harmonious Hounds dog trainers, which are just part of the day’s entertainment. There will also be awesome music, refreshment and food vendors!

The event will be hosted by WBSM legendary radio show celebrity Phil Paleologos, and music will be provided by the very talented Dave Antunes Sound Company. Registration will be between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and the Walk will begin at 12:00 pm with a Blessing of the Animals.

We are proud to announce our very generous Pet Fest sponsors this year: Anchor Animal Hospital, BayCoast Bank, Blue Buffalo, Capt. Jack Peterson Dog Park, Domino’s Pizza, Mellisa’s Pet Depot, Harmonious Hounds, Merrick, Midwestern Pet Foods, Mr. Cesspool Sanitation Service, Natural Balance Pet Foods, St. Anne’s Credit Union, Top Shelf Bar and Grill, Vaz Construction, and World’s Best Cat Litter.

100% of all the proceeds from the event will be used to support our many programs, including the purchase of oxygen masks to assist first responders in saving the lives of pets. Thanks to these masks, a dog that would have otherwise died was revived last year in a fire in New Bedford.

This year’s event will also feature a tribute to Yarmouth Police Sgt. Sean Gannon, a native of New Bedford, who was tragically killed April 12, 2018 in the line of duty. His canine partner, Nero, was also shot but survived.

The Coalition For Animals is an all-volunteer nonprofit charitable organization of individuals and local animal rescue groups dedicated to helping animals. Our mission is to create awareness in the community for the humane treatment of all animals, to help end the problems of companion animal overpopulation through spay/neuter programs, to promote the adoption of homeless companion animals, and to provide people with the educational information they need to help keep their animals safe and healthy. Visit our website at www.coalitonforanimals.com and ‘Like” us on Facebook!

The Pet Fest and Walk for Animals is a fun-filled ‘dog day’! It’s a great way to celebrate the animals in our lives and help local animals in need. Walk brochures and sponsor sign-up sheets are available at Mellisa’s Pet Depot in Dartmouth and Fairhaven, and at the larger parks throughout New Bedford, as well as online at www.coalitionforanimals.com. You can also register to walk and fundraise online at https://runsignup.com/petfest2019. The vendor booth and sponsorship applications are also available on our website. Check out our Facebook event page for more details www.facebook.com/events/377156409415257/

We can’t wait to see you there!

About Michael Silvia

Served 20 years in the United States Air Force. Owner of New Bedford Guide.

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