Pet Talk

by Cathy Davis
www.houltonanimalshelter.com
    I’m sure by now you’ve heard the rumor.  Yes, it’s true, this Saturday, Sept. 12, we’ll be Rockin’ the Doghouse right downtown!  Bring Rover, bring your kids, there will be something for everyone of all ages all day long.
    Beginning at 11 a.m. on Broadway there will be car registration for an awesome car show.  Hundreds of dollars of prizes will be awarded to the best in a variety of classes. All cars should be registered by noon and the awarding of prizes will be at 4 p.m. so you have all afternoon to wander around and view your favorites.
    During the day in the park there will be dozens of activities for the young, and the young at heart.  You don’t have to be 12 to sign up for the egg race, I’d love to see some 50 something entrants!  There will also be a ball toss, ring toss, washer toss, bowling, bean bag toss, duck pool, and a sack race.  Prizes for all game winners.
    Tatitudes will be set up in the park offering air brush tattoos.  I’ll be the first in line, I always wanted to try that.  
    Bozo the clown will be wandering around, and might have a balloon for your youngster!
    There will be popcorn, Snow Cones, cotton candy, lemonade, hot dogs, sweets, and pizza slices available all day to take care of your sweet tooth or your hunger pains and then at four p.m. a good old fashioned barbeque with burgers and dogs, chili, potato salad and beans.  
    Throughout the day there will be a 50/50 raffle going on, raffle tickets for some beautiful baskets made for us by friends all the way from Delaware,  a coloring contest,  and best of all, a costume contest for your best friend.  Bring Rover or Fluffy, dress them up as cowboys, princesses, clowns, bring them in pajamas or bring them in evening gowns but make sure to bring your dogs.  I don’t have an exact time for this particular contest but let’s pick a time and then we’ll stick to it, let’s say that 3 p.m. is the dog costume contest, sound good to you?
    The best is saved for last, at 6 p.m. there will be a live concert by the local band RAVOCTA who has wowed fans wherever they’ve gone.  An extremely talented group of youngsters, we are very fortunate to have them agree to play for us, and for you, and I know you are going to love their music.  I may be part of the older generation but I grew up on rock and roll and there is nothing like some good upbeat music played by some enthusiastic musicians who love their craft.  I can’t wait for this part of the event, we expect a very large crowd so come early to get a front row place in the park.
    Don’t forget to bring a chair if you want to sit, or bring a blanket if you want to sit on the grass, and do me a favor and offer up a prayer to the rain goddess to give us a beautiful day because we’re doing this rain or shine, and shine would be better.
    The purpose of this entire day is to raise money to help support the Houlton Humane Society animal shelter, yet there is no admission!  We ask that you remember us by dropping your change into the various donation cans or buckets.  There will be a charge for food, probably $2 for most items and $5 for the barbeque, and there will be baked goods for sale, but the bulk of the fund raising for this event is purely voluntary. Give what you can, have a blast all day long, and know that every single penny or dime that you drop in a bucket will help pay for Veterinary bills, cat litter, fuel oil, or all the many other expenses that go into maintaining a healthy safe environment for our abandoned and stray animals.
    We look forward to seeing you Sept. 12, noon-8 p.m. Write us on your calendar, and come spend an exciting day in beautiful downtown Houlton, Maine!