June 2 Will be a Dog-Day Afternoon – and Morning – in Long Branch

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Long Branch – The Purr’n Pooch Foun­dation for Animals will host its Paws for a Cause Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 2, at Pier Village Festival Plaza, 1 Chelsea Ave.
Sponsored by The City of Long Branch and Pier Village, the event will feature free pet friendly activities for families and their pups. Guests can also raise a paw for animals by making donations to support the mission of the nonprofit Purr’n Pooch Foundation for Animals.
The day will begin with the Purr’n Pooch 5K Classic Run/Walk at 8 a.m. Day-of registration opens at 7 a.m. at Pier Village’s Festival Plaza. Note that the Long Branch Animal Control prohibits dogs on the beach, boardwalk and promenade, so they will not be allowed to participate in the race with owners. Visit www.purrnpoochfoundation.org to preregister with the race organizers at Race Forum. There is a $25 fee to register. Race proceeds support the mission of the Purr’n Pooch Foundation for Animals.
Throughout the day, the Emmy-winning Small Factory Productions and Purr’n Pooch Foundation for Animals will premiere the second annual “Tails of Love” animated movie short. The film promotes the humane treatment and adoption of animals.
This spring, middle school children from across Monmouth County were invited to submit their original animals stories or drawings to the “Tails of Love” contest. Winners included: Sam Jansky, 8, from Little Silver Point Road School; Eric Bellino, 8, from Little Silver; Ryan Karr, 9, from Little Silver Point Road School; Carolyn Hester , 8, from Oceanport; Molly Kenney, 9, from Little Silver; Emma Greene, 9, from Monmouth Beach; Abigail Wieczevzak, 10, from Lincroft, and Victoria Spadavecchia, 4, from Monmouth Beach. The winners worked collaboratively to create the film over the course of several production workshops at Small Factory’s studio in Fair Haven. Small Factory Productions has created a library of more than 200 cartoons produced by more than 1,000 children from across New Jersey and New York.
Other event highlights include a Long Branch Police K-9 demonstration, face painting with the Monmouth County Underdogs, DOGA (yoga with your dog) with Purr’n Pooch Pet Resorts, canine treats from Jodes Happy Tail, and a meet and greet with adoptable dogs from local rescue organizations. The Paws for a Cause Day Doggie Fashion Show will be held on the Main Stage in Festival Plaza at 1 p.m. During the show, “Tails of Love” winners will hang ten in summer fashions as their doggie models strut their stuff in fashions from Paws & Pose Pet Boutique.
For more information on the event, visit purrnpoochfoundation.org.