(Marion, IA) Area residents are invited to join the fun for an evening of delicious “comfort food” and celebrity appearances as local animal welfare organization Iowa Humane Alliance presents their “Hot Soup-Cold Noses Benefit Supper” at the Marion American Legion, 625 31st Street, Marion, IA, on Friday, February 8th from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM. Admission for the all-you-can-eat affair is $8.00 for adults, with kids under five eating for free. Tickets will be available at the door.

The menu of home-style offerings includes a body-and-soul- warming assortment of chicken noodle soup with home-made noodles, beef-and-bean chili and vegan chili, veggie barley soup and a selection of beverages, as well as cornbread muffins, cupcakes and ice cream.  

Proceeds from the evening will go toward IHA’s on-going mission to reduce companion animal overpopulation and animal suffering in Iowa, including funding for the organization’s new Regional Spay/Neuter Clinic.  Located at 6540 6th Street S.W in Cedar Rapids, the clinic will hold its gala Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting ceremony at 12:00 noon, Saturday, February 16th, followed by an Open House with tours of the facility for the public from 1 PM to 5 PM.

 When fully functioning, the IHA Regional Spay/Neuter Clinic will serve 41 Eastern Iowa counties in a 100 mile radius of Cedar Rapids/Iowa City and will provide low-cost, high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter procedures for over 8,000 animals a year.  This high volume of procedures will prevent the births of literally tens of thousands of unwanted companion animals a year; animals that would otherwise contribute to the costly overcrowding in Eastern Iowa shelters and rescues struggling to keep up with the inflow of animals to their facilities.

Posted under Pet Events

It’s time for the Cubbie Tails (and Teddy Too) “Show Some Love” Fundraiser for the Cedar Bend Humane Society.

Anyone who donates $10 to the Cedar Bend Humane Society in Waterloo will be entered into a drawing to win one of two Valentine’s Day themed prize packages.

You MUST stop out at the humane society (1166 W. Airline Highway, Waterloo) to make your donation and enter the drawing. The shelter is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s closed Mondays.

This year, TWO winners will be drawn. You have until 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 9th to enter. The two names will be drawn during Today in Iowa Sunday on February 10th.

Both prize package include:

–A dozen roses from Petersen and Tietz Florists & Greenhouses

–Cake balls from Kathy’s Kakes

–A restaurant gift card

–A Family Video gift card

–A $20 gift certificate to the Cedar Bend Humane Society pet store

–KWWL swag

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Heidi Tietz DeSilva with Petersen & Tietz Florists and Greenhouses, Kathy Finholt with Kathy’s Kakes, Family Video and the Cedar Bend Humane Society

Posted under Pet Events

The Humane Society of North Iowa has decorated and set up a “Giving Tree” in the lobby of the shelter this week.  The “Giving Tree” is decorated with paper tags that list several high demand items the shelter needs donated this time of year.  The Humane Society of North Iowa hopes that supporters will remove a tag from the tree, purchase one or more of the items and bring them back to the shelter as donations.

The list of items included on the “Giving Tree” include: Purina™  brand Kitten and Adult Dog Chow, dish soap and hand soap, toilet paper, and 13 and 30 gallon garbage bags.

The Humane Society of North Iowa is a non-profit organization that serves a 9 county area in North Iowa and operates a no-kill rescue animal shelter in Mason City.  In the past 25 years, HSNI has found loving homes for over 7000 abandoned, displaced, and neglected animals. For more information, please call the Humane Society of North Iowa at: 641-423-6241 or visit them online at: www.hsni.org.

Posted under Pet Events

CEDAR RAPIDS—Dogs Forever will hold a Holidog Bazaar from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, December 1 and Saturday, December 8, at the Carl and Mary Koehler History Center, 615 First Avenue SE in Cedar Rapids. All proceeds benefit Dogs Forever Safe Place, Cedar Rapids’ first no-kill animal shelter.

Just in time for Christmas, the event will feature gifts for dogs and the people who love them, including:

• Dogs Forever 2013 Wall Calendar, featuring shelter dogs and their stories
• Awesome T-shirts for dog lovers of all ages
• Dog Christmas Stockings filled with rawhide chews and toys
• Bake Sale 

Dogs Forever is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization. For more information, visit dog-rescue-iowa.org

Posted under Pet Events

Furry four legged friends will put their best paws forward while posing with Santa for pet photo nights at College Square Mall.  The jolly elf will be available in December to take memory-making photographs with friendly felines and playful pooches.

Pet owners do not need appointments and are invited to visit Santa from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7, Friday, Dec.14 and Friday, Dec. 21.

To ensure event success, Santa has a few requests.  Owners and pets must enter and exit through the entrance near Mastercuts.  All animals must be on a leash or in a carrier, and no pets will be allowed beyond the Santa set.  Pet owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets.

A national photography company will be set up to document this special visit with state-of-the-art digital photo equipment.  Pet owners can view photos immediately.  Several different photo packages are available.

Posted under Pet Events

Join Us for Some Holiday Cheer!

The Cedar Bend Humane Society Holiday Open House

Saturday, December 15, 2012, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, 1166 West Airline Highway, Waterloo

1/2 Price Adoptions just in time for the Holidays!

Stroll along our Holiday Trail with one of our adoptable dogs. Santa will be waiting to give them a toy to unwrap!

Punch and Cookies for everyone.

Posted under Pet Events

Cedar Rapids Animal Control PAWS for the Holidays Bazaar and Silent Auction

Saturday, December 15th, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. at The Avacentre (corner of Wilson Avenue SW & Bowling Street)

Crafts and baked goods also available for purchase

Suggested $10 donation at the door will include 2 drink tickets

Big Ticket items include:

Laser Therapy Pet Package — Value: $239.00 from Frey’s Pet Hospital.

“Casino Royale” Overnight stay for two at the Riverside Casino plus two lunch buffets. — Value: $175

Holy Blazes! Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to partake in a homemade dinner for 4 at the Cedar Rapids Station #5 Firehouse! — Value: $300

Smaller items include:

Two rounds of golf at St. Andrew’s Golf Club

Stocking stuffer gift baskets

Picture Perfect Pet Portrait from Read Photography

Lost Island Retreat

Jewelry

Wellness exam packages from Animal Care Hospital

Many other items!

Co-Sponsored by the Friends Helping Friends Foundation of Cedar Rapids and Critter Crusaders. For more information, contact Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control at 319-286-5993.

Posted under Pet Events

Saturday, November 10th was the Cedar Bend Humane Society’s Fourth Annual Gala at the John Deere Supervisor’s Club in Waterloo.

Danielle with her mom

Mark Schnackenberg and I were co-emcees again this year.

Schnack & Danielle

The evening included a dinner, a silent auction and a live auction. Schnack and I went to work during the live auction.

It was another great fundraiser for homeless animals.

Melissa & Mark Schnackenberg

The Cedar Bend Humane Society takes in thousands of animals each year. In addition to serving Black Hawk County, the humane society takes in nearly 900 animals each year from surrounding counties without a shelter. It costs a lot of money to feed and care for the animals as they wait for a forever home.

Posted under Pet Events

The Cedar Valley Humane Society is holding its fifth annual Draws for Paws on November 17 at Parlor City Pub and Eatery, 1125 Third St. SE in Cedar Rapids.

The benefit begins at 10 a.m., one hour before kickoff of the Iowa vs. Michigan football game. For a $10 registration fee, participants receive a souvenir cup, unlimited $1 draws of Budweiser, Bud Light, or AmberBock, and one raffle ticket. Additional raffle tickets will be available for purchase. There will also be $3 Monster bombs and bottle specials throughout the game.

All proceeds benefit the homeless animals at the Cedar Valley Humane Society. Sponsored by Parlor City Pub and Eatery and 7G Distributing. Must be 21 or older to participate. For more details, visit www.cvhumane.org or contact Jan Clarke at (319) 362-6288 or jan.clarke@cvhumane.org.

Posted under Pet Events

The Cedar Valley Humane Society will hold an Emergency Care and Safety Institute course in pet first aid on Saturday, November 3, from 10:00 a. m to 4:00 p.m. at Pawsitive Paws Academy, 137 30th St. Dr. SE in Cedar Rapids.

The cost is $40, which includes a reference book and ECSI Pet First Aid Certification valid for three years. Students are asked to bring their own lunch and leave their pets at home.

Register for the Cedar Valley Humane Society’s ECSI pet first aid class at www.cvhumane.org or by calling (319) 362-6288.

Posted under Pet Events