To let the public know who they are, what they do and why they
care, Pet Friends is holding its first Blessing of the Animals
Saturday, March 29.
To let the public know who they are, what they do and why they care, Pet Friends is holding its first Blessing of the Animals Saturday, March 29 in the gardens at its facility at 2973 Buena Vista Road.
The public is invited to bring their pets to be blessed by Franciscan Father Gavin Griffith from the St. Francis Retreat at 1 p.m.
“The blessing is a fun thing to do,” said Leslie Hoffmann, director of the non-profit organization. “Saint Francis of Assisi called the animals his brothers and sisters. He respected all God’s creatures and taught that people are the stewards of animals and not the masters.”
Visitors can tour the grounds and learn about Pet Friends and their work from noon to 4 p.m.
Calls come every day to the organization for dogs and cats, but sometimes Pet Friends cares for other animals. Normally the facility sees anywhere from 20 to 35 adult cats per year and up to 12 dogs.
“Usually during kitten season we have about 20 kittens running around. But kitten season is not here yet,” Hoffmann said.
It costs the group $60,000 to $70,000 a year to take care of the animals, Hoffmann said. Since Pet Friends is non-profit, it does not receive government funding.
“We’re solely supported by private individuals,” Hoffmann said. “We also do have some fundraisers.”
The facility has a kitten room, a large covered kennel area, a conference center and an isolation room for sick animals. “We do take in special needs animals from time to time,” Hoffmann said.
Pet Friends offers coupons to have pets spayed or neutered. It serves as an adoption center as well as working with the Hollister Animal Shelter to help with the shelter’s capacity needs.
“We’re the only non-kill shelter in the county,” Hoffmann said. “We really are saving the animals.”
For more information, call 634-1191.
