City of Rochester
News Release
(Wednesday, May 31, 2017) – The City of Rochester Animal Services and the Verona Street Animal Society are inviting dog owners and their dogs to The Fast & The Furriest® benefit event on Saturday, June 3, at the Animal Services Center, 184 Verona St. and adjacent Brown Square Park.
The 11th annual event includes 10K and 5K races, a dog walk and pet festival. The event also features a live performance by Travis Fitch, dog playgroup demonstrations and activities for children including face painting, a bounce house and the Fire Safety House. Contests for the furriest dog, best wag, best dog trick, hot-dog bobbing and owner/pet look-alike will be held. More information including online race registration is posted at www.vsas.org.
Another purpose of the event is to bring about awareness of other services including pet adoptions, pet lost-and-found, spay/neuter programs, rescue partnerships, dog bite prevention, community outreach initiatives and volunteer opportunities. This event raises funds to help support the health and wellness of sheltered animals, the canine play yard, pet owner assistance and pet foster care program.
In addition, the event will again include free distemper/parvovirus vaccinations, rabies vaccinations and microchips at the walk-up clinic. There are limited quantities of vaccinations and microchips (200 of each) so the free service will be provided while supplies last. Owners seeking a 3-year rabies vaccination should bring vaccination records otherwise it will be recorded as a 1-year vaccination.
During the event, adoptions will be just $10 for cats and $20 for dogs. The shelter will be open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on June 3.
Major sponsors include: Lori’s Natural Food, Monroe Veterinary Associates, Fleet Feet Sports, Pet$aver Healthy Pet Superstore, Invisible Fence® Brand, Wegmans, Medaille College, Canandaigua National Bank & Trust and Pets at Peace by Harris Funeral Home.
In 2016, Rochester Animal Services provided shelter for more than 3,300 cats and dogs. Stray and surrendered pets are temporarily housed at the shelter, which also serves as a pet lost-and-found resource, pet adoption center and low-cost spay neuter clinic. The shelter is open to the public 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday (with extended hours on Wednesday until 7:30 p.m.), and is closed Sundays and select holidays.
For more information on adoptions, spay and neuter, community outreach or volunteering, visit www.rochesteranimalservices.com or email AnimalServices@cityofrochester.gov.
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News Media: For more information, contact Press Officer Jessica Alaimo at 428-7135.