8th Annual Danetoberfest
The lovable giants of Northwest Florida Great Dane Rescue (NWFLGDR) are back for the 8th Annual Danetoberfest, bringing all the slobbery kisses you can handle! Join us on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Seville Square in downtown Pensacola for an unforgettable day of fun, fundraising, and Great Danes galore!
This year’s theme is “Raise the Woof,” so be ready for some paws-itively big fun! Expect nose boops, surprise slobber bombs, and the chance to meet around 35 adoptable Great Danes and a crew of alumni Danes. Whether you’re a two-legged or four-legged friend, you can join the celebration!
What’s Danetoberfest All About?
Not only is this a tail-wagging adoption event, but it’s also NWFLGDR’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Our goal? To raise $15,000 to cover veterinary care, medical supplies, food, and more for the Great Danes in our rescue. Right now, we’ve got over 40 gentle giants looking for their forever homes, and your support can help make it happen.
“With shelters overwhelmed and overcapacity across the country, we’re heartbroken to see more and more Danes being abandoned everywhere you look, particularly in our own backyard,” said Katie King, vice president of NWFLGDR.
“We can’t do this alone — we need our community’s support to shine a light on the impact of overbreeding and to share the life-changing difference that comes from spaying, neutering, and adopting. These gentle giants deserve so much love, and together, we can help them find the forever homes they’ve been waiting for.”
Fun for Everyone
This year’s event is packed with activities for all! Browse almost two dozen vendors selling arts and crafts, from dog-themed items to tasty treats for both humans and pups. Hungry? Satisfy your cravings at food trucks like Redneck Hibachi, EinSwine BBQ, Tom’s Travelin’ Coffee Truck, and Kona Ice.
Feeling lucky? NWFLGDR’s raffle prizes are bigger than ever, including:
- A limited edition, 3-foot, fine ceramic, harlequin Great Dane sculpture handcrafted by Swiss artist Magdalena Hiltbrunner ($10 raffle ticket).
- A 7-foot Great Dane Skeleton by Home Accents Holidays with animated LED eyes.
- A custom 48″ x 30″ natural pine wood dog bed with fitted memory foam bed by Victoria Berube.
- Stunning acrylic-on-canvas paintings of Great Danes by local artist Rick Russell.
- A XXL Tough Rip-Stop™ Rectangle Bolster Pillow Dog Bed from K9 Ballistics measuring 68″L x 40″W x 10″H.
Raffle tickets for the ceramic Great Dane sculpture are $10 each. All other high-prize raffle tickets are $5 each, or 6 tickets for $20. There are dozens of additional $1 raffle items up for grabs, including custom artwork, gift baskets, dog items and more!
“Come out and eat some delicious food, grab a raffle ticket, and let one of our gentle giants steal your heart!” said Michelle Cramer, President of NWFLGDR. “You might just meet your new couch-stealing, human-sized best friend!”
Pet Walk to End Domestic Violence
On Saturday, Oct. 5, from 9 to 11 a.m., FavorHouse will host the 2nd Annual Paws For A Cause: Pet Walk to End DV at Corinne Jones Park, 620 W. Government Street.
- October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and FavorHouse of Northwest Florida says that pets play a big role in domestic violence cases. Abusers will threaten, harm, or kill pets as a tactic to maintain power and control over their victims.
- FavorHouse Program Director Marsha Travis states, “The fear of losing a beloved pet will keep people in a domestic violence situation. At FavorHouse, you don’t have to choose between your pet and your safety, and we need to make sure people know that.”
According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, only about 250 shelters in the United States are pet-friendly, with a handful more offering foster care arrangements for pets. Meanwhile, 97% of respondents in a survey conducted by the Urban Resource Institute (URI) and the People and Animals Living Safely (PALS) program stated that keeping their pets was an important determining factor in whether they would seek shelter.
The Pet Walk to End DV event will raise awareness and funds for the pet-friendly shelter and services that serve residents of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties who are experiencing intimate partner violence. There will be fun activities for pets who love to socialize and play. People and pets are encouraged to dress in Purple to support DV awareness, and there will be a costume contest for our furry friends.
- You can register at www.favorhouse.org with a $25 donation to FavorHouse.
The Paws For A Cause: Pet Walk to End DV is a part of the “Take Action to End Domestic Violence” campaign. The Take Action campaign events are sponsored by Levin, Papantonio, Proctor, Buchanan, O’Brien, Barr & Mougey, P.A., Pat Hilton-Green, and Animal Hospital of Tiger Point. To learn more about how to “Take Action” and to see the full calendar of events, visit www.FavorHouse.org/TakeAction.
Animal Welfare, FDOH-Escambia to Offer Free Rabies Vaccine Clinic Oct. 5
The Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare, in partnership with the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County, will offer a free drive-through rabies vaccine clinic on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 W. Park Place.
- The clinic is open to Escambia County residents only, with photo identification required upon arrival. Only dogs and cats will be vaccinated. All animals must be secured in the vehicle to receive treatment. Vaccines are available while supplies last.
Escambia County residents are required to have any dogs and cats four months or older vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian. These animals must be re-vaccinated 12 months after the initial vaccination. Proof of rabies vaccination is required to obtain a county animal license. To learn more about animal laws in Escambia County, visit MyEscambia.com/animalwelfare.
Escambia County Participating in BISSELL Pet Foundation ‘Empty the Shelters’
The Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare is excited to partner with the BISSELL Pet Foundation for the “Empty the Shelters” adoption event, which will run from Tuesday, Oct. 1, to Tuesday, Oct. 15.
- Adoptions for all cats and dogs 1 year or older will be accessible during this time. Puppies will be available for $50, and kittens will be available for $25. An $11 licensing fee will be applied to all adoptions for Escambia County residents. View all adoptable pets at the Animal Welfare and Adoption Center on 24petconnect.com.
BISSELL Pet Foundation’s “Empty the Shelters” event is the largest funded adoption event in the country. This life-saving event began in 2016 with the goal of encouraging more families to choose adoption. More than 204,000 pets have found loving homes since its inception. “Empty the Shelters is BISSELL Pet Foundation’s largest program, partnering with 730 animal welfare organizations in 49 states and Canada to reduce adoption fees.
The Escambia County Animal Welfare and Adoption Center is at 200 W. Fairfield Drive. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 12-5 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Photo by Zach Lucero on Unsplash