Each year the Animal Welfare Society PE gives hundreds of homeless pets a second chance at finding a forever loving home, and this year was no different despite the troubles brought by COVID-19.
When the pandemic forced them to postpone their annual April Shelter Sleepover event, they went back to the drawing board and have re-launched with fun festive cheer for November 28, bringing with it a few new opportunities.
Shelter or virtual – what will it be?
AWS PE has invited participants to join either the shelter or virtual sleepover evening experiences. They are on a mission to test whether “the snuggle is real” and raise much needed funds.
This year marks their fourth annual Shelter Sleepover event, and the first-ever Virtual Sleepover.
- The Shelter Sleepover offers a unique rustic style camping – a special experience of being able to share an enclosure and cuddle with the shelter cats or dogs for the evening.
It is a fundraising initiative and participants can team up and are requested to pledge to raise donations (a minimum of R3 000 per enclosure) which can be sourced from anyone and everyone! Companies or businesses may also adopt a spot at the shelter for the evening to erect their signs and banners and show their support of the event and initiative.
“The AWS PE Shelter Sleepover is a wonderful opportunity for you to show your compassion for animals and experience the love of our extended furry family at AWS PE,” said Cynthea van Rhijn of AWS PE.
Space is very limited. The shelter, located in Victoria Drive, Walmer, will be open to the public from 16:00 to 21:00 on November 28 for guests to show their support to the participants with live music entertainment provided by Etienne Verster and Joe van der Linden from local PE band The Brothers, and muso Jon Yawn Allen. Bespoke sleepover merchandising, as well as food and beverages will be on sale.
- The Virtual Sleepover will be held on the same evening where participants can share an evening camping at home with their own pets.
The virtual participant entry is R200 per family/home as a minimum donation, but it doesn’t have to stop there. Participants can challenged other friends and families to do the same and see how much FUN and FUND-ing they can raise.
Space is unlimited and anyone can participate and share the experiences with on the Animal Welfare Society Port Elizabeth Facebook page and on Instagram @awspe.
“Everyone at the shelter is very excited. With these events we hope to raise funds for our veterinary expenses and to Save our Clinic, along with sharing love and cuddles with our homeless pets, as well as promoting adoptions,” Van Rhijn said.
She added that they are seeing first-hand the impact of rising unemployment combined with the high cost of living at the animal shelter.
“There has been an increase in animal surrenders and our veterinary clinic is inundated with animals from impoverished households for whom AWS PE is the only option for medical care. This places burden upon our precarious financial situation, but we refuse to give up and remain committed to helping vulnerable animals to the best of our abilities. Sadly, despite all the animals re-homed since adoptions re-opened, our kennels in particular are overflowing and the adoption rate is dwindling. This places financial and emotional strain on us all and that is why we really need to fundraise harder than ever before.”
For more info, contact Cynthea van Rhijn at fundraising@awspe.co.za.
