Best Friends Animal Society, in partnership with Bobs from Skechers, will host a special Texas Super Adoption Event and Strut Your Mutt Walk to raise funds and find homes for animals affected by Hurricane Harvey this Saturday, September 16.
Event sponsor Bobs from Skechers will pay adoption fees for the first 100 animals adopted from the Texas Super Adoption event as part of a $10,000 donation to Best Friends’ Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.
“Thousands of pets were displaced by Hurricane Harvey, which is why, now more than ever, adoption is so important. When you adopt a pet at the Texas Super Adoption event, you’re saving two lives – the one you take home and the one who now has a space at a shelter,” said Eric Rayvid, public relations director for Best Friends Animal Society.
Event participants will include 17 Austin-based shelters, rescue groups and animal welfare organizations in the Best Friends Network – many of whom have evacuated animals from area shelters, taken in owner-surrendered pets and arranged adoptions and transport to network partner shelters and rescue groups across the country.
“More than 2,000 animals have been rescued since Hurricane Harvey – a testament to Best Friends Network’s amazing local organizations, and a reflection of this enormous challenge,” said Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers. “With so many animals still in need of homes, there is a dire need for support – and we believe that pairing the Texas Super Adoption with Best Friends’ hugely popular Strut Your Mutt event is a great way to make a difference for animals in urgent need and establish a strong foundation for future shelter animals in this region.”
Austin Pets Alive! is one of the local animal welfare organizations participating on Saturday.
“We hope that anyone in Austin still looking to adopt a pet will join us at the Texas Super Adoption. Especially after the trauma of Hurricane Harvey, we’re excited to help these pets find their forever homes,” said Dr. Ellen Jefferson, executive director of Austin Pets Alive!.
Over $150,000 was raised in Austin last year to support local groups. This year, the fundraising goal is set at $275,000 to support rescue efforts in the devastating wake of Hurricane Harvey.
Strut your Mutt will take place at Walter E. Long Park – 6614 Blue Bluff Road in Austin, TX.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. while the walk is set to start at 9:00 AM. The Texas Super Adoption will take place in the same location from 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. More than 150 dogs and cats will be present for adoption in loving homes. All animals at the event will be spayed or neutered and vaccinated.
Austin is one of 14 communities participating in Best Friends Animal Society’s Strut Your Mutt, presented by Bobs from Skechers, bringing together passionate people to raise money and save the lives of animals in need. Funds raised during Strut Your Mutt events make up a good portion of funds for many partners. The 2017 Strut Your Mutt goal is $3 million. To get involved, start your own fundraising page or donate to an existing team in Austin, visit StrutYourMutt.org.
Photo courtesy Best Friends Animal Society
