BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Two community events were held across Western New York on Sunday aimed at helping local shelter animals find their "fur-ever" homes.
The Buffalo Botanical Gardens, in partnership with Awesome Paws Rescue, hosted "Bloom and Bark," a free, family-friendly event held on the front lawn. The event allowed attendees to meet friendly dogs and cats available for adoption across several rescue groups.
In addition to the adoptable pets, the event featured pet-focused vendors, food trucks, and activities for all ages. While dogs were permitted to attend the activities on the front lawn, they were restricted from entering the conservatory.
Participating rescue organizations included:
- White Whiskers Senior Dog Sanctuary
- Buffalo C.A.R.E.S. Animal Rescue
- Buddys Second Chance Rescue
- 716 Paws
- Daisy’s Promise Dog Rescue
- Against All Oddz
- The Silver Lining for Pit Bulls
- Furever Friends Dog Rescue of WNY
- Allie & Pals Rescue
- City of Buffalo Animal Shelter
- Buffalo Underdogs Rescue
- Buffalo Greyhound Adoption
- Awesome Paws Rescue
- Queen City Pitties
Over in Depew, the Ten Lives Club Cat Rescue hosted a fundraiser with a classic Buffalo twist. The organization partnered with Chiavetta's Barbeque at its Transit Hill Plaza adoption location, allowing community members to pick up a takeout chicken meal while visiting the store's selection of adoptable cats and kittens.
The event also featured baked goods for sale, basket raffles, and Ten Lives Club merchandise.
Dee Pytlak, co-manager of the Transit Hill Plaza location, explained that the group hosts these popular barbecue events two or three times a year to save on cooking during hot summer days and drive adoptions.
"We have been doing this for years here at the Transit Hill Plaza location," Pytlak said. "Previous to that, we were in the Eastern Hills Mall for several years and we did nearly 5,000 adoptions in that location. We're closing in on 2,000 adoptions, and that's a lot of cats finding homes."
Pytlak noted that many of the cats in their care were abandoned outdoors, found locally as strays, or surrendered by owners who could no longer take care of them.
An adult cat named Montana was the first to be adopted out the door on Sunday.
For community members looking to adopt, Ten Lives Club is currently running a special promotion sponsored by the Bissell Pet Foundation, which is covering adoption fees for adult cats for the next two weeks.
For those who were unable to attend Sunday's events, the doors at the Ten Lives Club Transit Hill Plaza location are open seven days a week for visitors to spend time with the cats. The location will also host another Chiavetta's chicken barbecue fundraiser this September.
A full list of upcoming events and adoptable animals can be found on the rescue's website at www.tenlivesclub.com.
