The Treasure Coast Kennel Club and Dogs and Cats Forever Animal Sanctuary are hosting a free Responsible Dog Ownership Day on Saturday at 9 a.m. at Dogs and Cats Forever Animal Sanctuary, located at 4600 Selvitz Road in Fort Pierce. The event aims to educate pet owners about training and care while raising support for shelter animals as local rescues deal with overcrowding and supply shortages.
Susan Lyons with the Treasure Coast Kennel Club said the event is designed to help reduce shelter returns. "It's a free event so that people can come out and get information about how to be responsible dog owners so that we don't see dogs being returned to the shelter," Lyons said.
The event will feature dog training demonstrations, agility showcases, therapy and service dog education, raffles, food trucks and activities for children including bounce houses and a scavenger hunt. The Fort Pierce canine unit will conduct a demonstration. Families who participate in the scavenger hunt can collect vouchers from vendors to receive a free raffle ticket. Raffle prizes include gift baskets, gift cards, and a television.
Dogs available for future adoption through Dogs and Cats Forever Animal Sanctuary will be featured during the event, including Libby, a 9-year-old terrier. Nancy Dunn of Dogs and Cats Forever Animal Sanctuary said the first 50 people who bring a donation will receive swag bags. "Things that we need are dog food, cat food, flat sheets right now for puppies, blankets, towels — those kinds of things we're always in need of," Dunn said. Organizers encourage attendees to bring unopened pet food, towels, blankets, or other donation items to support the shelter.