Pawapalooza

Check out Pawapalooza on Septemer 28

It’s easy to find family-friendly events and activities around town, but it’s not often you can bring your four-legged family members, too. That’s why you should mark your calendar for the 2013 K-9 5K and Pawapalooza on Saturday, Sept. 28.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. and kicks off with a K-9 5K at 8:30 a.m. at England-Idlewild Park, 5550 Idlewild Road, Burlington. It’s $25 to register, and registration can be completed here online.

Following the race, the day continues with Pawapalooza, just down the street at the Boone County Fairgrounds, 5819 Idlewild Road, Burlington. Admission is $5 per person. Kids 12 and under are free. The Boone County Animal Shelter is hosting the fair for the second year in a row.

“Pawapalooza serves as a chance to thank local rescues who do a tremendous job pulling shelter animals needing rehabilitation and do behavior modification, general training socialization and off-site adoptions,” says Kristy Niccum, volunteer foster and event coordinator.

Proceeds from the day will be reserved for the shelter’s medical treatment funds that are not a part of their normal budgetary expenses so they can do more, like X-rays and surgeries.

“We’re trying to get everybody in the community involved to help increase the awareness of the expanding programs we’re doing here to help the animals that are sick or injured,” says Niccum. This includes the ones that need mild to moderate rehab or X-rays and testing that would normally face euthanasia since shelters typically do not have a budget to allow for medical treatment on that scale. It’s to help lower euthanasia rates.

“Pawapalooza gives us the funds and money we need to provide treatment for sick and injured animals,” explains Niccum.

The Boone County Animal Shelter kicked off a “life saving initiative” in January 2012. These are programs recommended by the “No-Kill community” that will help the shelter get to a 90 percent survival rate.

“The shelter has gone from a 70 percent save rate to an 80 percent save rate for dogs while the save-rate for cats has doubled from 25 percent to 50 percent,” says Niccum.

There are many ways you can get involved. First, you can sponsor the event or a portion of the event through a monetary donation either as a corporation or an individual. Also, you can rent booths or space at the Pawapalooza to sell your services and increase awareness of your business. Third, you can give donations such as gift certificates, goody bags, or money.

For more information on Pawapalooza and the K-9 5k, visit them on Facebook.