It’s all paws on deck for K9Crusaders, as the Northumberland County-based dog rescue prepares for its annual harvest festival.
Celebrating all things fall, K9Crusaders Animal Rescue’s annual harvest festival fundraiser runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 19 at Walnut Grove Daycare, Boarding and Spaw, located at 693 Pinewood School Rd. in Castleton.
The event includes a bake sale, a barbecue, a prize table, local vendors with their wares, professional fall-themed pet portraits, a canine Halloween costume contest, and more.
Well-behaved dogs on a leash are welcome to accompany humans and support the not-for profit all-breed rescue that relies solely on donations and volunteers for its work to rehabilitate and rehome dogs, many transferred from high-kill shelters in Quebec.
K9Crusaders events coordinator Helen Firing shared with kawarthaNOW some of her hopes for this year’s festival.
“It’s always nice when the dollar amount we raise grows year after year, but increased awareness and engagement with the public is sometimes more valuable than that,” Firing said.
“More money raised means we can help more dogs, but we can’t even bring those dogs into care unless we have a volunteer foster home in place for them. So really recruiting more foster homes is a big win for us too.”
The event also features $10 nail trims for dogs, offered by Kat’s in the Doghouse Pet Grooming in Port Hope, with the money collected being donated to the rescue.
Suddenly Art will be selling 3D printed collectibles and artwork. Also participating in the event is Sweet Pea for K9C, “the brainchild of a hand knitter and long-time doggy foster mum who donates 100 per cent of the sales from her one-of-a-kind handknits back to the rescue,” a press release noted.
“One of our rescue partners, No Paw Left Behind, joins us to fundraise with the sale of collars and leads, and our pals from Toe Beans Cat Cafe will have all the cat lovers covered.”
There will be homemade natural pet treats from Maeve’s Morsels and Nova’s Naturals and fresh produce and canning courtesy of Castle Farms. Pet photographer Dorothy Puddester of Hooves and Paws Photography will be on site and offering pet portraits.
Those who attend can visit the sanctuary farm animals on site. Participants can also grab a bite to eat by stopping by the barbecue, which is a new addition this year.
“We asked for feedback and we got it,” Firing said. “Visitors said they were hoping for something more substantial than our yummy home-baked goodness, so we’re offering the barbecue this year, complete with local, fresh corn-on-the-cob. Some of our guests had trouble navigating the somewhat hilly terrain between the car parking and vendor areas so we will have a volunteer driver acting as a shuttle between the two.”
Free parking is available on site.
Visitors who want to learn more about rescue work, volunteering, and/or adopting a pet can stop by the K9Crusaders merchandise tent for information.
“We are so pleased to be bringing dog lovers from near and far for this annual fall festival, yet again hosted by our wonderful partner, Walnut Grove,” Firing said in the release.
“Because we are a 100 per cent volunteer-run organization, we rely heavily on events such as this and our holiday market event in November to raise funds to support the care of our rescued dogs while they wait to find their forever homes. Our thanks to all the vendors who are joining us, and who have generously donated prizes for the event.”
K9 Crusaders was established in 2013 by Jodi Lane. Many of the rescued animals in care are seniors and those with high medical needs. Some of them remain with the rescue as compassionate care fosters to live out their days “surrounded by love and supported medically by the rescue,” according to the release.
K9Crusaders is always looking for volunteers and fosters, as well as monetary donations and supplies. For more information, visit the K9 Crusaders website at www.k9c.ca.
