Your Dog is Invited - from Somerset Magazine, August 2016

                August is here and plans are in full swing for the fourth annual Ethel Invitational Dog Show.  This day of dog activities and family fun is designed for the average dog – purebred or mutt – and is the main source of income to support the Ethel Fund Inc.  Any healthy, friendly, well-behaved dog may enter for just $10.   Every dog is automatically entered in the judging for Best in Show and, when you submit a photo, Online Best in Show. 

                The Invitational will be held on September 17 from 10:00am to 3:00pm at the Quemahoning Family Recreation Area in Hollsopple, PA.  Trophies will be awarded for Best in Show, 2^nd and 3^rd places, and for the winner of each contest: Best Trick, Cutest Kid/Dog Combo, Most Popular Puppy (under 10 months old), and the crowd favorite, Best Costume.  Ribbons will be awarded to every dog of merit and entering cute kid.  The contests are judged by spectators but Best in Show is determined by the amount of donations made in each dog’s name.

                The day is full of plenty of things to do besides watch or participate in the show.  You can observe and try American Kennel Club activities such as agility, obedience, and tracking.  There will be demonstrations such Search and Rescue, police dog work, weight pulling, freestyle dog dancing, and more.  There will be food, pet portraits, vendors, face-painting, games for the kids, and raffles for the adults.  Even with all this, admission for spectators is free.

                Miss Ethel Jane Kerplunk, herself, will be there to meet and greet all who helped her when she was in need of dual hip replacements and cervical spine surgery.  Because of the generosity of strangers and friends, Ethel now leads a life that is healthy, happy, and pain free.  The people who saved her life now work to help other pets.  Several recipients will be in attendance, and you can pick up a copy of our magazine, The Ethel Annual.  In it are the stories of all the animals helped by the Fund and reviews of the activities of our volunteers.

                100% of the proceeds of the Ethel Invitational will be used to provide assistance to family pets with catastrophic veterinary needs, give sanctuary to the pets of women escaping domestic abuse, and to facilitate the pairing of service dogs to people with physical or psychological impairments. 

                You may enter your dog online by visiting www.ethelfund.org and clicking on the tab labeled “The Ethel Invitational Dog Show.”  Paper copies of the entry form will soon be available at the offices of area veterinarians, pet care, and supporting businesses.  To become a vendor, please email Jaimie@ethelfund.org. To become a sponsor or demonstrator, please email Bryan@ethelfund.org.  All other questions may be sent to rslindeman@ethelfund.org or phone 814-443-4677.

                 

Rebecca is the President & Executive Director of The Ethel Fund Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to changing animals' lives by providing assistance in times of catastrophic veterinary need.  To learn more, please visit http://www.ethelfund.org or https://www.facebook.com/TheEthelFund.  You may contact Rebecca at rslindeman@ethelfund.org.

Phil Balko is the proprietor of Photography by Balko and donates his talents to the Ethel Fund Inc. as well as other community organizations.  To see more of his work, visit http://philipbalko.com/. You may contact Phil at inquiry@philipbalko.com.