For those of you in the Atlanta area...here are some wonderful fundraisers to attend:There will be paintings and sculptures, jewelry and pottery — 219 pieces in all.
And while it will look like many other art exhibits and sales, it’s the alternate meaning that organizers hope people will take home — each of those pieces of art represents one of the average 219 animals killed in Atlanta-area animal shelters each day.
This painting by Patti Russell will be among 219 pieces exhibited at an Atlanta Animal Rescue Friends fund-raiser.
“Estimates are that about 80,000 animals a year are killed in metro Atlanta shelters,” said Susan Leisure, president of Atlanta Animal Rescue Friends, the group staging the exhibit and fund-raising sale Saturday. “People can’t conceptualize 80,000 animals a year, but they can get their mind around 219 a day.”
Artists donated the items, with the proceeds going to AARF’s dog and cat rescue programs. But Leisure hopes people also get the message that Georgia has a severe pet overpopulation problem.
“New York takes in only about half the animals we do each year, and Los Angeles euthanized less than 20,000 pets in 2008,” Leisure said.
Janet Weiss, founder of Stopping Pet Overpopulation Together, the group that pulls together statistics from 20 local shelters, said most people have no idea how many pets are killed each year in area shelters.
“And the sad thing about pet overpopulation is that it’s totally preventable,” Weiss said.
How? Weiss gave three steps: Spay and neuter pets. Don’t get pets unless you’re dedicated to caring for them for their lifetime. And don’t buy pets from stores, backyard breeders or others that breed pets for money.
“It’s something we could stop in just a few years if everyone would just pull together,” Weiss said.
“219: The Show.” At Fine Line Gallery, 465 Boulevard S.E., Atlanta. Free to attend. Bottomless glass of wine, beer or soft drinks and hors d’oeuvres $25, or $20 in advance. 7:30-11 p.m. Silent auction ends at 10 p.m. Live auction items at 10 p.m. Information:www.aarfatlanta.org/219theshow.html.
Stray Pet Strut
This 5K run and 1-mile walk on April 19 benefits the Humane Society of Hall County. Food and merchandise vendors open at noon at Presentation Point at Lake Lanier Islands. Walk leaves at 2 p.m., run at 2:30 p.m. $25; $20 in advance. T-shirts or bandanas guaranteed for preregistered people and dogs. 770-532-6617 or www.humanesocietyhallcounty.com.
Doggie baths
A local Girl Scout troop will bathe dogs in exchange for a medium or large bag of dog or cat food donated to Meals “Fur” Pets, a pet-food bank in Cherokee County. 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, at 8420 Main St., Woodstock. Info: www.mealsfurpets.com or 678-520-2236.
