It's time for Gillette's only all-day pet festival: Pet-A-Palooza

Get the scoop on events at Pet-A-Palooza on June 2
May 23, 2018—Gillette, WY--Fur Kids Foundation’s signature event--Pet-A-Palooza—takes place Saturday, June 2, from 8 am-1 pm at CAM-PLEX Park Shelter No. 5. The all-day pet festival held in Gillette, Wyoming features the Fast and the FURriest Fun Walk, Pawject Runway fashion show for dogs, the Small Dog Showdown 40-foot dog race for pups 20 pounds and under, 4-H dog agility and dog demonstrations, as well as silent auction tables and vendors with pet-related products and services, as well as Jump House Mania for your two legged kiddos, and Pizza Carrello serving up their finest wood fired pizza.
 
The event is free to the public; some activities and attractions have fees. Each dog owner who attends the event is required to complete a registration form and liability waiver before entering Pet-A-Palooza. Participants may download registration forms ahead of time a www.furkidsfoundation.org/pap.html.
 
Fur Kids Foundation is the only organization in Northeastern Wyoming that provides families with pets access to emergency veterinary care when they cannot afford it. Since September 2012, Fur Kids Foundation has helped 521 families in Campbell County, Wyoming and granted more than $88,400 in emergency veterinary care. Pet-A-Palooza is Fur Kids Foundation’s signature event and largest annual fundraiser. Roughly 75 percent of the funds raised at all Fur Kids Foundation events help families keep their pets healthy in Campbell County, Wyoming.
 
Contests

1. The Fast and the FURriest Fun Walk is now the kick-off event for Pet-A-Palooza! Registration for the walk begins at 8 am, with the walk taking place at 8:30 am. Get the whole family, including your furry four legged members, out for family time! You can choose to walk (or run) laps around CAM-PLEX Park, and opt to receive a bandanna and/or a reflective item for your pup's collar. You can also be entered to win some paw-some Hurtta swag (details on how to enter will be announced the day of the event); you must be present to win, too. It’s a $15 donation without a dog bandana and a $20 donation with a dog bandanna; save $5 if you pre-register by May 25.
2. The Campbell County 4-H Dog Agility group will host agility for a $5 fee each run from 9 am-1 pm. For those who don’t know, agility is designed to demonstrate a dog's willingness to work with his handler in a variety of situations. Dogs and handlers negotiate an obstacle course filled with weave poles, tunnels, jumps, and more while racing against the clock. Agility is a great form of exercise for both dog and handler, and a fun way for the pair to bond.
3. The Small Dog Showdown 40-foot dog race for pups 20 pounds and under begins at 11 am (registration closes at 10:30 am). Entrance fee is $5 and participants must provide proof of rabies vaccination (tags or papers work). Prizes are awarded to those who win in two categories: Micro Mutts, up to 10 pounds; and Tiny Tots, 11 to 20 pounds.
4. Wrapping up the event is a fan favorite, Pawject Runway. If your dog has some serious style, or if you just like to dress them up, then this is the event for you! Our “expert” judges will examine those with costumes or outfits and accessories; and a matching dog/owner duo will only encourage better scores!​ Pawject Runway registration closes at 11:30 am, and the event begins at noon. It’s $10 to enter and prizes will be awarded!

 
Attractions

1. From 9 am-1 pm, nearly 20 vendors are open for businesses. Vendors include: Animal Medical Center of Wyoming, B3 K9 Training, Farmers Insurance/ Cindy Lovelace Agency, Forever Faithful Pet Crematory, Furdentity, Fur Kids Foundation, Hurtta, Josilyn Barbour Arts, Jump House Mania, Lazy KT Designs Art Booth, Lunar Light Artworks by L'Esperance (Sponsored by Wyoming Art and Frame), Oglala Pet Project, Pizza Carrello, Red Hills Veterinary Hospital, The Rusty Bucket, Sit Means Sit Dog Training, and Wyoming Basset Hound Rescue.
2. From 9 am-1 pm, let your pooch’s inner Picasso shine through with some dog paw art! Attendees can make a simple paw print or create paw flowers for a donation. Booth sponsored by Lazy KT Designs.
3. From 9 am-12:30 pm, participants can bid on a variety of silent auction items. There are tables filled with pet-themed goodies and toys, and other items from businesses and individuals. We do encourage bidders to pick up and pay for their items by 2:30 pm.
4. At 9:15 am, the Foundation will host a Pet Blessing, where participants may blow bubbles in memory of their pets who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
5. At 10 am, B3 K9 Training will host a dog training demo.

 
Want to Help?
Fur Kids Foundation seeks volunteers to work throughout the day. Interested people should contact the Foundation at (307) 363-1131 or volunteerfkf@gmail.com.
 
Pet-A-Palooza is supported by: Advance America; Animal Medical Center of Wyoming; Anastasia & David Blackwell; Cathy Brand, RE/MAX Professionals; Cloud Peak Energy; Community Veterinary Clinic; ​First Interstate Bank; First National Bank of Gillette; Forever Faithful Pet Crematory; Friedlan Family; Fraternal Order of the Eagles; Lazy KT Designs; Darren & Kim Lynde; ​Mary Kelley; Billy & Toby Montgomery; Overhead Door Co of Gillette; Pinnacle Bank; Pizza Carrello; Premier Home Mortgage, Inc.; Quality Auto; Red Hill Veterinary Hospital; Scott & Linda Rexroat; ​Peggy & Rod Seppala; Steven K. McManamen, Attorney At Law; The SPaw; and Thunder Basin Homes.
 
For more information about Pet-A-Palooza, contact the Fur Kids Foundation at furkidsfoundation@gmail.com or (307) 363-1131.
 
Created in November 2011, the Fur Kids Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides education and aid to promote the well-being of families with animals in Campbell County, Wyoming. Since September 2012, Fur Kids Foundation has helped 521 families in Campbell County, Wyoming and granted more than $88,400 in emergency veterinary care. The Foundation is completely volunteer ran, and 75% of the funds raised go directly to helping families with pets. Success stories can be viewed online at www.furkidsfoundation.org/success-stories.html.
 
For more information about Fur Kids Foundation, visit www.furkidsfoundation.org. Find FKF on www.facebook.com/furkidsfoundation. Follow us on Twitter, @furkidswyo.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Felicia Messimer
furkidsfoundation@gmail.com