Organizing A Community Animal Event

As an active volunteer for the Shelbyville-Bedford County Humane Association, I'm always trying to come up with new, exciting fundraising ideas. After attending several other cities' dog days events, I wished that we had something like that in our community. I wanted to take my dogs to an event like that. So at a humane association meeting one night, I suggested it as a possible fundraising activity. Everyone loved the idea and voted to put me in charge of it! I always tell people that I was smart enough to come up with the idea, but dumb enough not to run away fast enough, when they put me in charge.

In 2005, we held the first Celebration Pet Day. I stupidly thought that I could do everything myself. It was a small event. We held it at the warm up pavilion at the Celebration grounds. We had several booth participants and a good crowd. Everything went well, until thunderstorms spoiled the fun. The second year I had a terrific committee, and we moved the event to the Bedford County Agricultural Center. The event, participants, and attendees nearly tripled in size.

This year, I once again have a fantastic committee. We're busily working away to plan a great event. I'm always trying to think up new attractions, guests, and ideas to make the event better than ever. We'll be at the Ag Center again. Everything is coming together quite nicely for the event. We have had TREMENDOUS support from local businesses, the community, and fellow animal agencies. We are growing again! We have more than five special guests doing pet informational programming, many other local animal rescues, a group of costumed Super Heroes and Villains, really cool vendors, games, food, etc. The event is HUGE this year.

One of our biggest achievments came late yesterday afternoon. Cindy Sherrill from Sharpei Rescue of Tennessee, Inc. is a Purina Pro Plan Rally to Rescue advocate. Since she is attending our event, she got our event certified as an "official" Rally to Rescue event! We are just pleased as punch!

With all of this excitement, I think I may need a brown paper bag! Organizing this kind of event is SO much more work than I EVER imagined. But seeing how many homeless animals that it helps, I think it's worth all the work.

A BIG THANK YOU to the 2007 sponsors (as of today)for making this event happen:

Pepsi Cola Bottling Co.

Coca-Cola Bottling Co.

Bedford County Agricultural Center

Puppy Palace Grooming and Boarding

Kindred Spirits Dog Training and Boarding

Wal-Mart Distribution Center

Wal-Mart

George and Kathy Houk

Smith's Food Town

First Community Bank

Heritage Jewelers

J. Jordan Boutique

DAACS N Media

L&M Awards

Whitt's Barbeque

Publix